illegal

[ih-lee-guhl] / ɪˈli gəl /

ADJECTIVE

against the law

Synonyms

STRONGEST

banned criminal illegitimate illicit irregular outlawed prohibited smuggled unauthorized unconstitutional unlawful unlicensed unwarranted wrongful

WEAK

actionable black-market bootleg contraband crooked extralegal felonious forbidden heavy hot interdicted lawless not approved not legal outside the law proscribed prosecutable racket shady sub-rosa taboo under-the-table unofficial unwarrantable verboten violating wildcat

Antonyms

STRONGEST

authorized blessed ethical good justifiable lawful legal legitimate moral permitted right warranted

WEAK

allowed permissible

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Pushbacks - forcing migrants and asylum seekers back across borders without due process - are generally considered illegal under international law.

From BBC • Apr. 14, 2026

Founder Xu Jiayin, known as Hui Ka Yan in Cantonese, was reportedly held by police in 2023, with Evergrande saying he had been subjected to measures "due to suspicion of illegal crimes".

From Barron's • Apr. 14, 2026

“Pathogen transmission is a consequence of general and diverse uses of wildlife by people. This includes illegal and legal trade.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 13, 2026

“No one who pays an illegal toll will have safe passage on the high seas,” he said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 13, 2026

There was a law which made it illegal to hunt and sell chimpanzees without a license.

From "My Life with the Chimpanzees" by Jane Goodall

Vocabulary lists containing illegal

List 3

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