illicit

il·lic·it

adjective \(ˌ)i(l)-ˈli-sət\

Definition of ILLICIT

: not permitted : unlawful

— il·lic·it·ly adverb

Examples of ILLICIT

1. He was arrested for selling illicit copies of the software.
2. She had an illicit affair with her boss.
3. The wedding is mounted in traditional Punjabi style, but underneath the formal fanfare simmer dysfunctional-family tensions, deep dark secrets, … and illicit affairs. —David Ansen, Newsweek, 4 Mar. 2002
4. “Thank you, Lieutenant,” she said, bowing her head, just as she might in everyday, civilian life, and I felt suddenly illicit in her presence, as though we'd slipped out of sight of our chaperons … —Chang-rae Lee, A Gesture Life, 1999
5. The companies that carry cellular … have adopted a number of monitoring techniques to detect illicit calls … —Paul Wallich, Scientific American, March 1994

Origin of ILLICIT

Latin illicitus, from in- + licitus lawful — more at licit

First Known Use: 1506

Related to ILLICIT

Synonyms

criminal, felonious, illegitimate, illegal, 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

Other Legal Terms

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

Rhymes with ILLICIT

complicit, elicit, explicit, implicit, solicit