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.

“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

He condemned the refinery blockade as "illegal activity" by people determined to "hold the country to ransom".

From Barron's • Apr. 12, 2026

And it was illegal to get an autograph, but I got it.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 12, 2026

Police officers working to shut down an illegal rave at a beauty spot used "unethical" force, one partygoer has told the BBC.

From BBC • Apr. 7, 2026

It was a Tory paper and he wasn’t supposed to have it; it was illegal, so he kept it hidden.

From "My Brother Sam is Dead" by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier

Vocabulary lists containing illegal

List 3

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