illegal

¹il·le·gal

adj \(ˌ)i(l)-ˈlē-gəl\

Definition of ILLEGAL

: not according to or authorized by law : unlawful, illicit; also : not sanctioned by official rules (as of a game)

— il·le·gal·i·ty \ˌi-li-ˈga-lə-tē\ noun

— il·le·gal·ly \(ˌ)i(l)-ˈlē-gə-lē\ adverb

Examples of ILLEGAL

1. In this state, it is illegal for anyone under the age of 21 to drink alcohol.
2. The team was penalized for an illegal play.

Origin of ILLEGAL

Middle French or Medieval Latin; Middle French illegal, from Medieval Latin illegalis, from Latin in- + legalis legal

First Known Use: 1538

Related to ILLEGAL

Synonyms: criminal, felonious, illegitimate, illicit, lawless, unlawful, wrongful

Antonyms: lawful, legal, legitimate

Related Words: bad, evil, immoral, shameful, sinful, unethical, wicked, wrong; blamable, blameworthy, censurable, reprehensible; banned, barred, contraband, criminalized, disallowed, discouraged, forbidden, interdicted, outlawed, prohibited, proscribed; adulterine, bootleg, unauthorized, unlicensed, unsanctioned; under-the-counter, under-the-table; corrupt, unprincipled, unscrupulous, villainous

Near Antonyms: ethical, good, just, principled, right, righteous, virtuous; allowed, permitted; authorized, licensed; approved, endorsed (also indorsed), sanctioned; abetted, encouraged, promoted, suggested, supported; correct, decent, decorous, proper, seemly

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Other Legal Terms

actionable, alienable, carceral, chattel, complicity, decedent, larceny, malfeasance, modus operandi

Rhymes with ILLEGAL

bald eagle, half eagle, porbeagle, sea eagle, spread-eagle, viceregal