illegal

[ih-lee-guhl]

adjective

1. forbidden by law or statute.

   Synonyms: unlicensed, illicit, illegitimate, unlawful

2. contrary to or forbidden by official rules, regulations, etc..

   The referee ruled that it was an illegal forward pass.

noun

1. Informal: Disparaging and Offensive.,  illegal alien.

illegal

/ ɪˈliːɡəl /

adjective

1. forbidden by law; unlawful; illicit

2. unauthorized or prohibited by a code of official or accepted rules

noun

1. a person who has entered or attempted to enter a country illegally

Sensitive Note

See illegal alien.

Other Word Forms

• illegally adverb
• illegality noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of illegal¹

From the Medieval Latin word illēgālis, dating back to 1620–30. See il- ², legal

Synonym Study

Illegal, unlawful, illegitimate, illicit, criminal can all describe actions not in accord with law. Illegal refers most specifically to violations of statutes or, in organized athletics, codified rules: an illegal seizure of property; an illegal block ( in football ). Unlawful means not sanctioned by or according to law: an unlawful claim to the inheritance; to take unlawful advantage of the trading situation. Illegitimate means lacking legal or traditional right or rights: an illegitimate child; illegitimate use of privileged knowledge. Illicit, which originally meant simply “not permitted,” now most often applies to matters regulated by law with specific emphasis on the way things are carried out: illicit conversion of property; an illicit attempt to control the market. Criminal most often refers to violation of the statutes of penal as opposed to civil law. All felonies are criminal as are all crimes sometimes punishable by death such as murder, arson, and kidnapping: a criminal act.

Example Sentences

Reform UK said the bill would create a legal duty for the home secretary to remove illegal migrants, and ban anyone who had been deported from re-entering the UK for life.

From BBC

The president also campaigned on cracking down on illegal immigration, telling supporters he believed migrants were stealing jobs from Americans.

From BBC

Yourex allegedly bragged about the feat on social media, sharing a picture of Maya toting an “I Voted” sticker and posing with the illegal ballot in January 2022, prosecutors said.

From Los Angeles Times

He has agreed to sell what he claims to be THC vape liquids to a schoolgirl – an illegal substance which is the main psychoactive ingredient in cannabis.

From BBC

Ads for VPNs are also banned, and while using these apps is not illegal, it may now be treated as an aggravating factor in criminal cases.

From BBC

Related Words

• banned www.thesaurus.com
• criminal 
• illegitimate 
• illicit 
• irregular 
• outlawed www.thesaurus.com
• prohibited 
• smuggled www.thesaurus.com
• unauthorized 
• unconstitutional 
• unlawful 
• unlicensed 
• unwarranted 
• wrongful