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

unlawfully

ˌən-ˈlȯ-f(ə-)lē 

adverb

unlawfulness

ˌən-ˈlȯ-fəl-nəs 

noun

Synonyms of unlawful

• illegal
• illicit
• criminal

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

Legacy admissions hasn’t been declared unlawful under the tax code, and an admissions preference doesn’t prove a donation purchased admission. — Jayson Weingarten, Fortune, 26 Sep. 2026

Owen McIntire, 20, of Parkville, faces one count of malicious destruction of property and one count of unlawful possession of an unregistered destructive device for the March 2025 incident. — Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 25 Sep. 2026

Officers declared the gathering unlawful before escorting everyone outside and checking the pledges for injuries and incapacitation. — Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 25 Sep. 2026

Apple denies the allegations in the lawsuit and denies doing anything improper or unlawful, but has agreed to pay $250 million into a settlement fund. — Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 24 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

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