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.

"Of course, until yesterday the prime minister was claiming that this leadership had brought order to the chaos of illegal subsidies," it said.

From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026

They’re a crazy phenomenon with plenty of uses—some legitimate, many illegal.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

Every lower court that has considered the issue has found the order illegal and prevented it from taking effect.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2026

Criticism of the government is illegal in the UAE, and it exercises strict control over the flow information out of the country.

From BBC • Mar. 30, 2026

On January 6, Nebraska became the thirty-sixth state to ratify the Eighteenth Amendment, making it illegal to manufacture, sell, or transport liquor.

From "1919 The Year That Changed America" by Martin W. Sandler

illegal

Example Sentences

Related Words