Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of illegality
From the Medieval Latin word illēgālitās, dating back to 1630–40. See illegal, -ity
Explanation
Illegality is the state of being against the rules or the law. Sometimes you have to break the law to effect change. The students knew the illegality of their actions, and that they might be arrested, but they figured it was worth it to change a bad law. The root word of illegality is legal, which is from the Latin word legalis, which means related to or pertaining to the law. Il- means not, so illegal means "not legal," and -ity is a suffix used to make an adjective a noun meaning the "state of or condition of." So literally, illegality is the condition of being not legal. Despite the illegality, people often break the law when it comes to speed limits.
Vocabulary lists containing illegality
leg, legis
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leg, legis (law)
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Had there ever been a law code that explicitly endorsed illegality?
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 10, 2026
In written submissions, Christopher Newman, representing Lowe, said the "substantive claim to judicial review alleges procedural unfairness in the processes of ICGS, as well as perversity and illegality".
From BBC ● Feb. 24, 2026
Despite reminders from law enforcement regarding the dangers and illegality of non-sanctioned fireworks displays, many residents throughout L.A.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 5, 2025
The evidence of a massive and coordinated project to defraud the European Parliament and its associated taxpayers included jaw-droppingly incriminating emails suggesting officials knew exactly what they were doing, and the illegality of their actions.
From BBC ● Apr. 2, 2025
Was there some illegality that the father stashed such sums away?
From "How the García Girls Lost Their Accents" by Julia Alvarez
He accused Harvard of "serious and heinous illegalities", but did not clarify how he believed it had broken the law.
From BBC ● Feb. 3, 2026
Brazil's Climate Observatory NGO said civil society organizations would go to court to fight the decision, based on "illegalities and technical flaws" in the licensing process.
From Barron's ● Oct. 20, 2025
In August 1974, after Nixon's illegalities were exposed in the Watergate hearings, he resigned; then-Vice President Gerald Ford went on to assume the presidency.
From Salon ● Mar. 22, 2025
Awadallah said an advisory opinion from the court “will give us many tools, using peaceful international law methods and tools, to confront the illegalities of the occupation.”
From Seattle Times ● Feb. 17, 2024
But this was only a temporary measure; the government would not let a few illegalities stand in their way.
From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
