illegal
1 of 2adjective
il·le·gal (ˌ)i(l)-ˈlē-gəl 
: not according to or authorized by law : unlawful, illicit
also : not sanctioned by official rules (as of a game)
illegality
ˌi-li-ˈga-lə-tē
noun illegally
(ˌ)i(l)-ˈlē-gə-lē
adverb illegal
2 of 2noun
sometimes disparaging + offensive
: a person who enters or lives in a country without the documentation required for legal entry or residence
Synonyms
Adjective
- criminal
- felonious
- illegitimate
- illicit
- lawless
- unlawful
- wrongful
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Adjective In this state, it is illegal for anyone under the age of 21 to drink alcohol. The team was penalized for an illegal play.
Recent Examples on the Web
James Bruggers, The Courier-Journal, 5 July 2017 Official fireworks shows took place over the city, and illegal pyrotechnics lit up the sky everywhere in between. Lisa Beebe, Los Angeles Magazine, 5 July 2017 Facebook has been scrutinized for its handling of its users’ data, and social networks face fines in Germany for failing to swiftly take down hate speech and illegal content. Amie Tsang, New York Times, 4 July 2017 In the 1950s and 1960s, major city hospitals in the United States admitted as many as 20 to 30 women a day for complications from illegal or self-induced abortions. Cindy Crabb, Teen Vogue, 1 July 2017 Will Ferrell and Amy Poehler as a stuck-in-a-rut suburban couple who open an illegal casino to pay for their daughter's college tuition. Owen Gleiberman, chicagotribune.com, 30 June 2017 They are charged with illegal re-entry into the United States after previous deportation or removal, according to Acting U.S. Attorney Robert O. Posey and U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement Special Agent in Charge Ray Parmer. Carol Robinson, AL.com, 30 June 2017 Trump later walked back these comments, sort of, saying that instead, doctors should be punished for providing abortions if the procedure were made illegal. Michael Sebastian, Cosmopolitan, 29 June 2017 A Helsinki district court on Wednesday ordered the assets of Uber's Finnish country manager be confiscated until police conclude an investigation into whether the U.S. ride-hailing firm operates an illegal taxi service in Finland. Reuters, Fortune, 28 June 2017 George Jahn, The Seattle Times, 24 June 2017 Still, undercover illegals have been discovered in the United States as recently as June 2010, when 10 alleged spies were arrested by the FBI in Boston, New York, New Jersey and Arlington, Va. Harrison Smith, Washington Post, 21 June 2017 Marco stood today, standing on this stage Marco supports legalization and citizenship for 12 million illegals. New York Times, 15 Jan. 2016 See More
Adjective
Louisville police say anything that goes into the air or explodes is illegal for average citizens. James Bruggers, The Courier-Journal, 5 July 2017 Official fireworks shows took place over the city, and illegal pyrotechnics lit up the sky everywhere in between. Lisa Beebe, Los Angeles Magazine, 5 July 2017 Facebook has been scrutinized for its handling of its users’ data, and social networks face fines in Germany for failing to swiftly take down hate speech and illegal content. Amie Tsang, New York Times, 4 July 2017 In the 1950s and 1960s, major city hospitals in the United States admitted as many as 20 to 30 women a day for complications from illegal or self-induced abortions. Cindy Crabb, Teen Vogue, 1 July 2017 Will Ferrell and Amy Poehler as a stuck-in-a-rut suburban couple who open an illegal casino to pay for their daughter's college tuition. Owen Gleiberman, chicagotribune.com, 30 June 2017 They are charged with illegal re-entry into the United States after previous deportation or removal, according to Acting U.S. Attorney Robert O. Posey and U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement Special Agent in Charge Ray Parmer. Carol Robinson, AL.com, 30 June 2017 Trump later walked back these comments, sort of, saying that instead, doctors should be punished for providing abortions if the procedure were made illegal. Michael Sebastian, Cosmopolitan, 29 June 2017 A Helsinki district court on Wednesday ordered the assets of Uber's Finnish country manager be confiscated until police conclude an investigation into whether the U.S. ride-hailing firm operates an illegal taxi service in Finland. Reuters, Fortune, 28 June 2017 Noun
And beyond stripping illegals of Austrian citizenship, Interior Minister Wolfgang Sobotka of the centrist People’s Party is proposing hefty fines and other punitive measures. George Jahn, The Seattle Times, 24 June 2017 Still, undercover illegals have been discovered in the United States as recently as June 2010, when 10 alleged spies were arrested by the FBI in Boston, New York, New Jersey and Arlington, Va. Harrison Smith, Washington Post, 21 June 2017 Marco stood today, standing on this stage Marco supports legalization and citizenship for 12 million illegals. New York Times, 15 Jan. 2016 See More Word History
Etymology
Adjective
Middle French or Medieval Latin; Middle French illegal, from Medieval Latin illegalis, from Latin in- + legalis legal
First Known Use
Adjective
1538, in the meaning defined above
Noun
1939, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing illegal
Kids Definition
illegal
adjective
il·le·gal i-ˈlē-gəl
: not allowed by the laws or rules He was arrested for illegal activities. The team made an illegal play.
Legal Definition
illegal
adjective
il·le·gal il-ˈlē-gəl
: contrary to or in violation of a law : illicit, unlawful
an illegal contract
illegal
adjective
1
as in unlawful
contrary to or forbidden by law it is illegal to import those birds into this country Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- unlawful
- illicit
- criminal
- felonious
- unauthorized
- wrongful
- forbidden
- illegitimate
- criminalized
- prohibited
- immoral
- lawless
- unethical
- wrong
- shameful
- sinful
- outlawed
- banned
- evil
- unlicensed
- reprehensible
- unsanctioned
- bad
- proscribed
- contraband
- wicked
- disallowed
- discouraged
- corrupt
- interdicted
- barred
- bootleg
- unscrupulous
- censurable
- blameworthy
- blamable
- unprincipled
- under-the-table
- villainous
- under-the-counter
- adulterine
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- legal
- lawful
- legitimate
- right
- ethical
- permitted
- good
- righteous
- virtuous
- just
- authorized
- licensed
- approved
- endorsed
- correct
- proper
- allowed
- sanctioned
- promoted
- principled
- supported
- decent
- suggested
- encouraged
- abetted
- indorsed
- seemly
- decorous
2
as in unfair
not being in accordance with the rules or standards of what is fair in sport an illegal pass Synonyms & Similar Words
- unfair
- foul
- nasty
- dirty
- unsportsmanlike
- shameful
- immoral
- dishonorable
- unethical
- low
- unjust
- below the belt
- unscrupulous
- shabby
- ignoble
- mean
- unprincipled
- ungentlemanly
- unrighteous
- rotten
- unchivalrous
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- legal
- fair
- clean
- sportsmanlike
- moral
- ethical
- sportsmanly
- just
- righteous
- scrupulous
- honorable
- law-abiding
- unimpeachable
- irreproachable
- principled