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 alert said the Los Angeles Police Department had declared the unlawful gathering along Alameda Street between Aliso Street and Temple Street.
—
Sarah D. Wire, USA Today, 29 Mar. 2026
Heifler was charged with ferdeal counts of unlawful possession of a destructive devices and unlawful making of destructive devices, officials said.
—Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 27 Mar. 2026
Stanford School of Medicine prohibits unlawful discrimination on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.
—Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 27 Mar. 2026
Dozens of participants were later charged with misdemeanor offenses related to unlawful assembly and obstruction, with many ultimately placed into diversion programs requiring community service.
—Cierra Morgan, Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unlawful
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Sarah D. Wire, USA Today, 29 Mar. 2026
Heifler was charged with ferdeal counts of unlawful possession of a destructive devices and unlawful making of destructive devices, officials said.
—Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 27 Mar. 2026
Stanford School of Medicine prohibits unlawful discrimination on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.
—Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 27 Mar. 2026
Dozens of participants were later charged with misdemeanor offenses related to unlawful assembly and obstruction, with many ultimately placed into diversion programs requiring community service.
—Cierra Morgan, Los Angeles Times, 27 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 1 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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