adjective
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illegal
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illicit; immoral
unlawful love
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an archaic word for illegitimate
Synonym Usage
See illegal.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of unlawful
First recorded in 1250–1300, unlawful is from the Middle English word unlaweful. See un- 1, lawful
Compare meaning
How does unlawful compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
James Ixcoy, 30, is charged with improper use of computer data and unlawful use of a tracking device, according to the complaint.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 4, 2026
The states filed suit at the US Court of International Trade in New York, asking that judges halt the implementation of the tariffs, declare them unlawful and order the government to issue refunds.
From Barron's ● Aug. 3, 2026
He also pointed out that since legislative change a decade ago, there has been no unlawful interference with any journalist's phone data.
From BBC ● Jul. 30, 2026
There are lots of parallels between these two stories: family members getting separated from loved ones, then turning to the courts, specifically to habeas corpus petitions, to claim that the separation is unlawful.
From Slate ● Jul. 27, 2026
The shebeens were unlawful bars in the back of someone’s house.
From "Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood" by Trevor Noah
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
