illicit

[ih-lis-it] / ɪˈlɪs ɪt /

ADJECTIVE

not legal; forbidden

Synonyms

STRONGEST

adulterous bootleg clandestine contraband furtive illegal illegitimate immoral improper prohibited unauthorized unlawful unlicensed wrongful

WEAK

black-market contrary to law criminal crooked dirty felonious guilty heavy in violation of law lawless out of line racket wrong

Antonyms

STRONGEST

aboveboard allowed authorized chaste ethical forthright good lawful legal legitimate moral open permitted pure right truthful uncorrupt

WEAK

blessed licit noble proper

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.

The 61-year-old used party funds to make hundreds of illicit purchases, ranging from handcream and towels to a luxury motorhome and two cars.

From BBC • May 26, 2026

“This looks like the role of a lifetime for you,” says Jing-nan’s uncle, a cheerful crook who wants his nephew to inform him of any illicit activities at the plant.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 22, 2026

The bags are usually $1.49 or 99 cents, which feels almost illicit in this economy.

From Salon • May 22, 2026

For Cage, it’s a combination of its visual aesthetic and the moral ambiguity of the mysteries and illicit affairs in film noir that have made the genre endure among cinephiles.

From Los Angeles Times • May 20, 2026

My heart speeds up like I’m doing something illicit.

From "Everything, Everything" by Nicola Yoon

Vocabulary lists containing illicit

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This Week in Words: September 1 - 7, 2018

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Brave New World

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