extralegal

[ ek-struh-lee-guhl ]

adjective

1. being beyond the province or authority of law:

   There were only extralegal recourses for their grievances.

Other Words From

• extra·legal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of extralegal¹

First recorded in 1635–45; extra- + legal

Example Sentences

Mourning a friend who died a year earlier, the group attempts to finance a move to California through various extralegal schemes that bring them into unwitting conflict with other local posses.

From Time

Amy, the actress with deep connections in the industry, has seen actors get what they need through “friendly” doctors and extralegal means.

From Vox

The other front is outside the bounds of constitutional and democratic competition and into the realm of illegal or extralegal efforts to undermine the electoral process.

From Washington Post

Still mourning a friend who died a year earlier, the ad-hoc gang is saving to finance a move to California through various extralegal schemes whose immediate effect is to bring them into unwitting conflict with other local posses.

From Time

The government maintained its power for a time through extralegal acts, setting aside election results it did not like.

From Washington Post

Related Words

• banned
• criminal
• illegitimate
• illicit
• irregular
• outlawed
• prohibited
• smuggled
• unauthorized
• unconstitutional
• unlawful
• unlicensed
• unwarranted
• wrongful