ill-gotten

[il-got-n]

adjective

1. acquired by dishonest, improper, or evil means.

   ill-gotten gains.

ill-gotten

adjective

1. obtained dishonestly or illegally (esp in the phrase ill-gotten gains )

Word History and Origins

Origin of ill-gotten¹

First recorded in 1545–55

Example Sentences

Investigators say the thieves often use the parcel post or couriers to send their ill-gotten gains back to Chile.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

A Cambodian conglomerate whose founder has had more than $15 billion of allegedly ill-gotten assets seized said it "categorically rejects" claims he amassed his fortune running an internet scam empire.

Read more on Barron's

Months before, criminals from the Darkside group took the strange decision to post proof that they had donated some of their ill-gotten bitcoin to charities.

Read more on BBC

She added: "They made vast profits from their activities and structured their businesses in a way that tried to conceal their activities and to launder their ill-gotten income."

Read more on BBC

He even bought a house for his mother using the ill-gotten cash, prosecutors alleged.

Read more on Los Angeles Times