Illegal

/ɪˈliːɡəl/ · adjective

Meaning

Contrary to, forbidden, or not authorized by law, especially criminal law..

Definitions by Sense

1. Contrary to, forbidden, or not authorized by law, especially criminal law.
2. Forbidden by established rules.
3. (philately, of an issue printed for collectors) Totally fictitious, and often issued on behalf of a non-existent territory or country.
4. (of a person, sometimes offensive) Being or doing something illegally.
5. (chiefly US, sometimes offensive) Being an illegal immigrant; residing in a country illegally.
6. (obsolete) An illegal act or technique.
7. (colloquial, in the plural, as illegals) Contraband, esp. illegal substances such as drugs.
8. (colloquial, offensive) An illegal immigrant.

Example Sentences

This is illegal, you know!

Nearly 40 million people live in UK areas with illegal air pollution

Their illegal mining operations in Asia, Africa and elsewhere, are protected by officials and police paid to look the other way – and powerful customers in the construction industry who prefer not to ask too many questions.

In all times the Princes in England have done ſomething illegal to get Money: But then came a Parliament and all was well, the People and the Prince kiſt and were Friends, and ſo things were quiet for a while.

Imagine a country where children do nothing but play until they start compulsory schooling at age seven. Then, without exception, they attend comprehensives until the age of 16. Charging school fees is illegal, and so is sorting pupils into ability groups by streaming or setting.

Major parties have long relied on large-scale campaign contributions, and the LDP was only recently mired in an illegal fundraising scandal. Sanseito drew its support from smaller, individual donations.

It's illegal to go over 70mph on any British road, so why should drivers have cars that can?

Moving a pawn backward is an illegal move in chess.

Synonyms for illegal

Antonyms for illegal

Related Words

Word Forms

• more illegal
• illegaler
• most illegal
• illegalest
• illegals

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

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