illicit

[ih-lis-it]

adjective

1. not legally permitted or authorized; unlicensed; unlawful.

   Synonyms: prohibited, illegitimate

2. disapproved of or not permitted for moral or ethical reasons.

illicit

/ ɪˈlɪsɪt /

adjective

1. another word for illegal

2. not allowed or approved by common custom, rule, or standard

   illicit sexual relations

Other Word Forms

• illicitly adverb
• illicitness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of illicit¹

First recorded in 1645–55; from Latin illicitus, equivalent to il- ² + licit ( def. )

Synonym Study

See illegal.

Example Sentences

They were shuttled between properties where illicit drugs were common and treatment included logging onto crowded video calls.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

The black market to trade this illicit crude is increasingly sophisticated.

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A geolocation tag was reportedly found on his phone linked to the illicit goods.

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One of the parties in his bloc was barred from running two days ago because of alleged illicit funding.

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The berries were the kind that stained everything they touched: fingers, tongues, the sidewalk beneath, a heliotrope purple that felt almost illicit.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• adulterous 
• bootleg 
• clandestine 
• contraband 
• furtive 
• illegal 
• illegitimate 
• immoral 
• improper 
• prohibited 
• unauthorized 
• unlawful 
• unlicensed 
• wrongful