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.

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

Iran’s armed forces said before the U.S. blockade began that such a move would constitute an illegal “act of piracy.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 14, 2026

Blockading merchant ships violates the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and is illegal, she noted.

From Barron's • Apr. 14, 2026

It is illegal under Philippine law and widely banned across Southeast Asia because of its destructive impact on marine ecosystems.

From BBC • Apr. 13, 2026

Lily said being on the dunes was wrong, even illegal.

From "Caterpillar Summer" by Gillian McDunn

Vocabulary lists containing illegal

List 3

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