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
Related Words
See illegal.
Other Word Forms
- illicitly adverb
- illicitness noun
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:
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.
Layers of Western sanctions and a recent rash of ship seizures represent the toughest suite of measures brought to bear against the so-called shadow fleet of vessels smuggling illicit oil across the globe.
Counter-claims of a sting operation with illicit filming... it all got a little bit tasty.
From BBC
These included "reciprocal" tariffs over trade practices that Washington deemed unfair, alongside separate sets of duties targeting major partners Mexico, Canada and China over illicit drug flows and immigration.
From Barron's
It’s drawn people looking for social media content, and those more interested in the illicit.
From Los Angeles Times
Khan were active on the world stage, Mr. Bush announced the PSI in Krakow, Poland, on May 31, 2003, to forge a coalition against the illicit transfer of key weapons components.
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.
