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 unlawful taking of items from a machine or device that is operated or activated by the use of coins.
—
Baltimore Sun Staff, Baltimore Sun, 17 Apr. 2026
Killing people on the high seas, supporting clearly unlawful military operations, and participating in the destruction of civilian infrastructure — while civilians are present — are wrong and un-American.
—Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 17 Apr. 2026
The class action suit, one of the first 4th Amendment challenges to immigration roving patrols, claims the arrests violated protections against unlawful searches and seizures.
—Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2026
She was charged on state counts of second-degree murder, armed criminal action and unlawful use of a weapon, and in 2021 she was charged on a federal warrant with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution, Kansas City police said.
—Phil Helsel, NBC news, 17 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unlawful
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Baltimore Sun Staff, Baltimore Sun, 17 Apr. 2026
Killing people on the high seas, supporting clearly unlawful military operations, and participating in the destruction of civilian infrastructure — while civilians are present — are wrong and un-American.
—Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 17 Apr. 2026
The class action suit, one of the first 4th Amendment challenges to immigration roving patrols, claims the arrests violated protections against unlawful searches and seizures.
—Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2026
She was charged on state counts of second-degree murder, armed criminal action and unlawful use of a weapon, and in 2021 she was charged on a federal warrant with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution, Kansas City police said.
—Phil Helsel, NBC news, 17 Apr. 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 21 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
unlawful
adjective
un·law·ful
ˌən-ˈlȯ-fəl
ˈən-
: not lawful : being against the law : illegal
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