unlawful
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
Examples of unlawful in a Sentence
The sale of alcohol to minors is unlawful.
it is unlawful to set off fireworks within the city limits
Recent Examples on the Web
The confrontation came just days after another judge ruled that the three-person leadership structure installed after Habba’s disqualification was itself unlawful, although that decision has been paused pending appeal.
—
Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 22 Mar. 2026
The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Washington, seeks reinstatement and a court declaration that the terminations were unlawful.
—Arkansas Online, 21 Mar. 2026
Kansas City’s Multidisciplinary Public Safety Task Force and the Kansas City Police Department are also taking up the cause, with Mayor Quinton Lucas saying the machines can contribute to other unlawful activities.
—Jack Harvel, Kansas City Star, 21 Mar. 2026
The International Court of Justice sided with Mauritius in a 2019 case over the territory, issuing an advisory ruling that declared the British occupation unlawful.
—Freddie Clayton, NBC news, 21 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unlawful
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Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 22 Mar. 2026
The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Washington, seeks reinstatement and a court declaration that the terminations were unlawful.
—Arkansas Online, 21 Mar. 2026
Kansas City’s Multidisciplinary Public Safety Task Force and the Kansas City Police Department are also taking up the cause, with Mayor Quinton Lucas saying the machines can contribute to other unlawful activities.
—Jack Harvel, Kansas City Star, 21 Mar. 2026
The International Court of Justice sided with Mauritius in a 2019 case over the territory, issuing an advisory ruling that declared the British occupation unlawful.
—Freddie Clayton, NBC news, 21 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unlawful
Cite this Entry
“Unlawful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unlawful. Accessed 22 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
unlawful
adjective
un·law·ful
ˌən-ˈlȯ-fəl
ˈən-
: not lawful : being against the law : illegal
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