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

Peters became a figure whose actions were not just unlawful but emblematic of broader threats to democratic norms. —Doug Friednash, Denver Post, 6 Mar. 2026

By sanctioning an unlawful deal, the government has created a legal impediment to petitioners' financial recovery. —Scott MacFarlane, CBS News, 5 Mar. 2026

The city is quickly building the new, temporary facility in order to hold detainees facing city charges — such as trespassing, theft, car break-ins, resisting arrest, assault, indecent exposure or unlawful use of a weapon — ahead of the FIFA World Cup in June. —Ben Wheeler, Kansas City Star, 5 Mar. 2026

In February 2004, Castaneda Negrete was convicted of first-degree burglary and unlawful restraint, officials said. —Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 5 Mar. 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