Dictionary.com

unlawful

[ uhn-law-fuhl ]
/ ʌnˈlɔ fəl /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR unlawful ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

not lawful; contrary to law; illegal.
born out of wedlock; illegitimate.

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Origin of unlawful

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

synonym study for unlawful

1. See illegal.

OTHER WORDS FROM unlawful

un·law·ful·ly, adverbun·law·ful·ness, noun

Words nearby unlawful

unlade, unlaid, unlamented, unlash, unlatch, unlawful, unlawful assembly, unlax, unlay, unlead, unleaded
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to unlawful

illegitimate, unauthorized, illegal, lawless, improper, illicit, nefarious, prohibited, wrongful, banned, bootleg, criminal, flagitious, forbidden, iniquitous, taboo, actionable, outlawed, under-the-counter, unlicensed

Example sentences from the Web for unlawful

British Dictionary definitions for unlawful

unlawful
/ (ʌnˈlɔːfʊl) /

adjective

illegal
illicit; immoralunlawful love
an archaic word for illegitimate

Derived forms of unlawful

unlawfully, adverbunlawfulness, 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