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

Other Word Forms

• unlawfully adverb
• unlawfulness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of unlawful¹

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

Synonym Study

See illegal.

Example Sentences

In August, Han told her followers in a video message: "I have never ordered any unlawful political request or monetary transaction."

Read more on Barron's

"I was not a recruiter, agent, operator or facilitator of any unlawful activity," she says.

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His letter is in response to a UK Supreme Court judgement that the Christian focused RE taught in Northern Ireland was unlawful.

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What about the risks of obeying an unlawful order?

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A district court judge ruled it unlawful but an appeals court allowed the deployment to proceed.

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Related Words

• illegal 
• illegitimate 
• illicit 
• improper 
• lawless 
• nefarious 
• prohibited 
• unauthorized 
• wrongful