unlawful

1 of 2

adjective

un·​law·​ful ˌən-ˈlȯ-fəl 

1

a

: not lawful : illegal

unlawful actions

b

: acting contrary to or in defiance of the law

an unlawful possessor

2

: not morally right or conventional

unlawfully

ˌən-ˈlȯ-f(ə-)lē 

adverb

unlawfulness

ˌən-ˈlȯ-fəl-nəs 

noun

unlawfulness

2 of 2

noun

un·​law·​ful·​ness

: the quality or state of being unlawful

Synonyms of unlawful

Adjective

• illegal
• illicit
• criminal

Examples of unlawful in a Sentence

Adjective

The sale of alcohol to minors is unlawful.

it is unlawful to set off fireworks within the city limits

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The court, divided 6-3, ruled that the executive order Trump issued on the first day of his second term was unlawful. — Elizabeth Robinson, NBC news, 1 July 2026

Pitt filed a lawsuit in 2022 alleging Jolie's sale of the property to an investment firm was unlawful. — Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 30 June 2026

If these requirements are not met, the search is unreasonable and therefore unlawful, and evidence obtained in that search cannot be used in court, barring a good-faith exception. — Anne Toomey McKenna, The Conversation, 30 June 2026

Yet the lawyers chosen to represent the colonies nevertheless concluded that lawful government had become an unlawful government. — Joseph Andrew, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for unlawful

• awful
• lawful
• offal
• waffle

Kids Definition

unlawful

adjective

un·​law·​ful ˌən-ˈlȯ-fəl 

ˈən-

: not lawful : being against the law : illegal

unlawfully

-f(ə-)lē 

adverb

unlawfulness

-fəl-nəs 

noun

Legal Definition

unlawful

adjective

un·​law·​ful

1

: not lawful : not authorized or justified by law

2

: acting contrary to or in defiance of the law

an unlawful possessor

unlawfully adverb

unlawfulness noun