adjective
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illegal
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illicit; immoral
unlawful love
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an archaic word for illegitimate
Synonym Usage
See illegal.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of unlawful
First recorded in 1250–1300, unlawful is from the Middle English word unlaweful. See un- 1, lawful
Compare meaning
How does unlawful 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.
The four defendants all admitted breaking into the Moog factory, near Wolverhampton, in August but argued that their actions were not unlawful.
From BBC • Jun. 18, 2026
“The decision is unlawful, procedurally unfair and unsupported by evidence,” they said.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 18, 2026
It was established as a safeguard against arbitrary and unlawful imprisonment, so if a judge finds the government’s reasoning insufficient, they hold the power to immediately order the prisoner’s release with sufficient legal grounds.
From Slate • Jun. 18, 2026
Judge Winmill observed that the nation’s history and traditions recognized “a right to self-protection and self-preservation” permitting otherwise unlawful acts “when necessary to prevent harm to oneself or another.”
From Slate • Jun. 16, 2026
“This is an unlawful assembly,” blared a voice from the chopper.
From "Anger Is a Gift" by Mark Oshiro
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.
