illicit

[ ih-lis-it ]

/ ɪˈlɪs ɪt /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR illicit ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

not legally permitted or authorized; unlicensed; unlawful.

disapproved of or not permitted for moral or ethical reasons.

Nearby words

illegitimatize, illegitimize, illia, arturo, illiberal, illich, illicit, illicitly, illimani, illimitable, illin', illinium

Origin of illicit

From the Latin word illicitus, dating back to 1645–55. See il-², licit

SYNONYMS FOR illicit

1 illegitimate, prohibited. See illegal.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR illicit ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

il·lic·it·ly, adverbil·lic·it·ness, noun

Can be confused

elicit illicitillegal illicit (see synonym study at illegal)

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for illicit

But the increasing number of fraudsters bringing back wares to stores to make an illicit killing has become impossible to ignore.
The Insane $11 Billion Scam at Retailers’ Return Desks|M.L. Nestel|December 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Alexandre went so far as to buy back a Degas from its illicit owners.
My Grandfather's War: Recovering the Art the Nazis Stole|Anne Sinclair|October 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It causes some of my cells to express Ebola proteins to illicit an immune response.
Why I Became an Ebola Vaccine Guinea Pig|Lizzie Crocker|September 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
LSD, an illicit drug with a serious stigma, was once the darling of the psychotherapy world.
Psychedelics Are Ready for a Comeback|Abby Haglage|September 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST

These same groups that trade in animals are also shuttling weapons, humans, and other illicit goods across national lines.
South Africa’s Great Rhino Airlift|Nina Strochlic|August 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Antoine Freneau had grown really afraid to carry on his illicit trade after the capture of the Red Rover.
A Little Girl in Old St. Louis|Amanda Minnie Douglas
In order to put a check on illicit removal, all passengers now leaving the Union are searched before they board their ships.
An African Adventure|Isaac F. Marcosson
The illicit means employed in discriminative underselling are chiefly extortion and deception.
Distributive Justice|John A. (John Augustine) Ryan
It would hurt his feelings to accuse a brother-clerk of being an illicit trader.
A Dash from Diamond City|George Manville Fenn
Illicit hollands, schiedam, and indeed smuggling in general; excused as a matter of moonshine.
The Sailor's Word-Book|William Henry Smyth

British Dictionary definitions for illicit

illicit

/ (ɪˈlɪsɪt) /

adjective

another word for illegal

not allowed or approved by common custom, rule, or standardillicit sexual relations

Derived Forms

illicitly, adverbillicitness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012