illicitly

[ ih-lis-it-lee ]

adverb

1. in a way that is not legally permitted or authorized; unlawfully:

   She estimates that more than one-third of all software installed on personal computers is obtained illicitly.

2. in a way that is disapproved of or not permitted for moral or ethical reasons:

   In divorce proceedings, “corespondent” means the person that one of the partners has been illicitly sleeping with.

Word History and Origins

Origin of illicitly¹

First recorded in 1660–70; illicit ( def ) + -ly ( def )

Example Sentences

Magomed illicitly made $1.3 million from this bridge loan scheme.

From The Daily Beast

Jackson County has never had a feud; its chief lawlessness has been the promiscuous sale of whiskey, illicitly, of course.

From Project Gutenberg

His conduct had been inspired by "power illicitly obtained."

From Project Gutenberg

The night has a subdued preciousness, like an illicitly pregnant womans.

From Project Gutenberg

The average price of a two-year-old not thus illicitly vended was 70 yen.

From Project Gutenberg

It did not abolish smuggling, inasmuch as a letter might be sent illicitly for a penny.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• unjustifiably
• unjustly
• wrongly