illicit
Americanadjective
-
not legally permitted or authorized; unlicensed; unlawful.
- Synonyms:
- prohibited, illegitimate
-
disapproved of or not permitted for moral or ethical reasons.
adjective
-
another word for illegal
-
not allowed or approved by common custom, rule, or standard
illicit sexual relations
Synonym Usage
See illegal.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of illicit
First recorded in 1645–55; from Latin illicitus, equivalent to il- 2 + licit ( def. )
Compare meaning
How does illicit compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
Illicit means not allowed by law or custom. It's illegal to kill endangered elephants, but many poachers still engage in the Illicit ivory trade. Illicit usually refers to something that is not morally proper or acceptable. Illicit activities — like smuggling or counterfeiting — happen under the radar of the law. Illicit is from Latin illicitus, from the prefix in-, "not," plus licitus, "lawful."
Vocabulary lists containing illicit
Some Tricky Homonyms
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This Week in Words: September 1 - 7, 2018
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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.
Binance said it has “zero-tolerance for illicit activity on its platform,” and had built a “best-in-class compliance program.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 1, 2026
"The United States will not allow rogue groups to profit from the illicit mineral trade and destabilise the region," Treasury secretary Scott Bessent said.
From BBC • Jun. 26, 2026
The illicit purchases also included games consoles, a £100 chopstick set, £100 men's loafers and £2.50 hand cream.
From BBC • Jun. 23, 2026
That has raised concerns that some listings could be misrepresented, unsafe, or used to disguise more illicit services.
From Barron's • Jun. 19, 2026
She whispered the word “fancy” like it was something illicit, as a smartly dressed couple in their fifties walked by.
From "When Dimple Met Rishi" by Sandhya Menon
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.
