illegal

[ih-lee-guhl]

adjective

1. forbidden by law or statute.

   Synonyms: unlicensed, illicit, illegitimate, unlawful

2. contrary to or forbidden by official rules, regulations, etc..

   The referee ruled that it was an illegal forward pass.

noun

1. Informal: Disparaging and Offensive.,  illegal alien.

illegal

/ ɪˈliːɡəl /

adjective

1. forbidden by law; unlawful; illicit

2. unauthorized or prohibited by a code of official or accepted rules

noun

1. a person who has entered or attempted to enter a country illegally

Sensitive Note

See illegal alien.

Other Word Forms

• illegally adverb
• illegality noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of illegal¹

From the Medieval Latin word illēgālis, dating back to 1620–30. See il- ², legal

Synonym Study

Illegal, unlawful, illegitimate, illicit, criminal can all describe actions not in accord with law. Illegal refers most specifically to violations of statutes or, in organized athletics, codified rules: an illegal seizure of property; an illegal block ( in football ). Unlawful means not sanctioned by or according to law: an unlawful claim to the inheritance; to take unlawful advantage of the trading situation. Illegitimate means lacking legal or traditional right or rights: an illegitimate child; illegitimate use of privileged knowledge. Illicit, which originally meant simply “not permitted,” now most often applies to matters regulated by law with specific emphasis on the way things are carried out: illicit conversion of property; an illicit attempt to control the market. Criminal most often refers to violation of the statutes of penal as opposed to civil law. All felonies are criminal as are all crimes sometimes punishable by death such as murder, arson, and kidnapping: a criminal act.

Example Sentences

Today, the court made a clear judgement: I did nothing illegal on September 18.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“Look, I did nothing criminal, I did nothing illegal,” Homan said.

Read more on Salon

"The number one problem about deporting illegal immigrants, first of all, is finding a place which will take them and which is not unsafe," argues Lord Sumption.

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“His actions — and those of his Cabinet — are against our deeply held American values. He needs to stop this illegal charade now.”

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Bost argues that this effectively extends Election Day and that residents who vote in person are having their votes “diluted by illegal ballots received in violation of the federal Election Day statutes.”

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• banned www.thesaurus.com
• criminal 
• illegitimate 
• illicit 
• irregular 
• outlawed www.thesaurus.com
• prohibited 
• smuggled www.thesaurus.com
• unauthorized 
• unconstitutional 
• unlawful 
• unlicensed 
• unwarranted 
• wrongful