illegality

[ il-ee-gal-i-tee ]

/ ˌɪl iˈgæl ɪ ti /

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See synonyms for illegality on Thesaurus.com

noun, plural il·le·gal·i·ties.

illegal condition or quality; unlawfulness.

an illegal act.

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Origin of illegality

From the Medieval Latin word illēgālitās, dating back to 1630–40. See illegal, -ity

Words nearby illegality

ill-disposed, Ille, Ille-et-Vilaine, illegal, illegal alien, illegality, illegalize, illegal procedure, illegible, illegit, illegitimacy

How to use illegality in a sentence

If this audit comes out with baseless claims of illegality, we know some Arizona Republican representatives will use this as a pretext for legislation to suppress voting access.
A cybersecurity expert who promoted claims of fraud in the 2020 election is leading the GOP-backed recount of millions of ballots in Arizona|Rosalind Helderman|April 16, 2021|Washington Post
Having the state or their agents investigate people in their homes and make any kind of implication of illegality is extremely intimidating and is the logical extension of voter suppression efforts that we’re seeing in other states.
A cybersecurity expert who promoted claims of fraud in the 2020 election is leading the GOP-backed recount of millions of ballots in Arizona|Rosalind Helderman|April 16, 2021|Washington Post
It was the kind of political illegality that Doar and his 500 poll watchers had been looking for.
Honoring The Late John Doar, A Nearly Forgotten Hero Of The Civil Rights Era|Gary May|November 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
As with the drug trade, much of the violence associated with sex work is exacerbated by its illegality.
Why It's Time to Legalize Prostitution|Cathy Reisenwitz|August 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST

In 1951, two controversial Paramount films tackled the continued illegality of abortion head-on.
Why Deny the Obvious: Hollywood’s Backward Stance on Abortion|Teo Bugbee|June 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
No one had ever questioned the illegality of it, as she was over the age of consent at the time.
What You Should Know About Woody Allen's Feud With Mia and Ronan Farrow|Marina Watts|January 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
As blacks were forbidden to strike it was called a "stay-at-home" but the cosmetic phrase did not hide the illegality.
Mandela, My Source: One Journalist’s Memory of Clandestine Meetings|Benjamin Pogrund|December 6, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Whenever a marriage can be set aside for some illegality, and is not, it will sustain her dower on his death.
Putnam's Handy Law Book for the Layman|Albert Sidney Bolles
Jansoulet adorning himself with Jenkins's ribbon might very well have been guilty of illegality.
The Nabob|Alphonse Daudet
Legality and illegality, those terms have no meaning to a man of the Industrial Workers of the World.
The Everett massacre|Walker C. Smith
They delayed, however, from week to week, while they renewed their protests against the illegality of the court.
The Revolt of The Netherlands, Complete|Friedrich Schiller
His reply was an urgent remonstrance against the resolution on the ground of illegality.
The Felon's Track|Michael Doheny