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View synonyms for unlawful

unlawful

[ uhn-law-fuhl ]

adjective

  1. not lawful; contrary to law; illegal.

    Synonyms: illicit

  2. born out of wedlock; illegitimate.

    Synonyms: natural, bastard



unlawful

/ ʌnˈlɔːfʊl /

adjective

  1. illegal
  2. illicit; immoral

    unlawful love

  3. an archaic word for illegitimate
“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


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Derived Forms

  • unˈlawfully, adverb
  • unˈlawfulness, noun
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Other Words From

  • un·lawful·ly adverb
  • un·lawful·ness noun
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Word History and Origins

Origin of unlawful1

First recorded in 1250–1300, unlawful is from the Middle English word unlaweful. See un- 1, lawful
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Compare Meanings

How does unlawful compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

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Synonym Study

See illegal.
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Example Sentences

In July 2018, the company agreed to pay a $500,000 civil penalty to the CFPB after the federal agency found it had used a network of companies that “engaged in frequent unlawful debt collection acts.”

“Anyone attempting to unlawfully gain access to the Capitol Grounds by climbing a fence or any other unlawful means will be subject to an appropriate use of force and arrest,” the statement said.

The primary was condemned by China’s top agencies for Hong Kong as an “unlawful ­manipulation” of the city’s election system and a violation of the national security law.

From Fortune

Since then, the attorneys general contend, Google built an unlawful monopoly in no small part because it requires publishers to use its full suite of tools.

Mastercard said it is terminating use of its cards on Pornhub after its own investigation confirmed violations of standards prohibiting unlawful conduct on the site.

From Fortune

Dovgan is only one of many cases of unlawful detention, according to Human Rights Watch Senior Research Tanya Lokshina.

Among these are obscenity, defamation, fighting words, express incitement to unlawful conduct, and threats.

We were then told we were all being arrested for ‘unlawful protesting.’

He also revealed his view that the operation itself had been unlawful: it was “not legal because no finding.”

The military insists that civilian deaths are investigated whenever allegations of unlawful killing are made.

A lease for an unlawful purpose is void, for example, for the sale of spirituous liquors contrary to law.

No performance on either side can give the unlawful contract any validity, or be the foundation of any right of action upon it.

Of course, they had a right to defend their homes and families against unlawful invaders.

Charges of unlawful carnal knowledge or indecent assault arise, for the most part, from complaints made by females.

They resented most of all one of his decrees which made it unlawful for persons not in his service to carry arms in time of peace.

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