extralegal

adjective

ex·​tra·​le·​gal ˌek-strə-ˈlē-gəl How to pronounce extralegal (audio)
: not regulated or sanctioned by law
extralegally adverb

Examples of extralegal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
But some of the current raids seem to lack proper protocol and may be extralegal. Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 June 2025 The resulting narrative portrayed the workers as respectable, sober, disciplined homeowners and family men, while the Pinkertons became an external, extralegal threat. Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 15 June 2025 During the Jim Crow era, Southern states operated as single-party authoritarian regimes, permitting or even encouraging extralegal violence like lynching, while participating in democracy at the federal level. Amanda Taub, New York Times, 3 May 2025 This is especially true when the President seems willing to engage in extralegal tactics, such as selective audits, retributive regulation, and harassment campaigns carried out in the parts of the media that are already loyal to him. Andrew Marantz, New Yorker, 28 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for extralegal

Word History

First Known Use

1644, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of extralegal was in 1644

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Extralegal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/extralegal. Accessed 14 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

extralegal

adjective
ex·​tra·​le·​gal ˌek-strə-ˈlē-gəl How to pronounce extralegal (audio)
: not regulated or sanctioned by law
extralegally adverb

Legal Definition

extralegal

adjective
ex·​tra·​le·​gal ˌek-strə-ˈlē-gəl How to pronounce extralegal (audio)
: not regulated or sanctioned by law
extralegally adverb
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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