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.
Starting in 2001, the U.S. began making new use of its military base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba—which at that point had been in Washington's possession for over a century—as an extralegal prison notorious for torture and indefinite detention without charge. Azadeh Shahshahani, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Sep. 2025 Trump then gave him an Administration role with seemingly extralegal power to reorder federal agencies; all the while, Musk’s businesses Tesla, SpaceX, and Starlink were profiting from government contracts or subsidies. David D. Kirkpatrick, New Yorker, 11 Aug. 2025 All of this content spoke to a desire to revive a vengeful spirit, or extralegal justice, that characterized the online discourse around Mangione. Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 1 Aug. 2025 But some of the current raids seem to lack proper protocol and may be extralegal. Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 June 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 12 Sep. 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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