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.

“Racism in admissions is both illegal and anti-American, and this department will not allow it to continue.”

From Los Angeles Times • May 6, 2026

A jury ruled Live Nation an illegal monopoly last month, a decision the company said it would fight.

From MarketWatch • May 6, 2026

“The federal government considers us an illegal operator, and yet they take our money,” says Hamala.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 6, 2026

The US Supreme Court struck down those levies as illegal, but tolls on Chinese goods entering the US still sit at around 20 percent.

From Barron's • May 6, 2026

None of these men—the one who lived or the three with him who had died— were doing anything illegal.

From "Mountain of Fire" by Rebecca E. F. Barone

Vocabulary lists containing illegal

List 3

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