Illegal Meaning and Definition
Pronunciation
/ɪlɪʤəl/
Part of Speech
Noun
Definition
A thing that breaks the law or is not allowed or permitted, often in a punishable manner.
Examples
- The illegal substances were seized by the authorities.
- The company was sued for illegally dumping waste in the ocean.
Synonyms
- Illicit
- Unlawful
Antonyms
- Legal
- Licensed
Etymology
The word “Illegal” comes from the Latin “illicitus”, meaning “forbidden” or “prohibited”, and the Greek “anomykos”, meaning “lawless”.
Usage Notes
Use “Illegal” to describe an action or activity that is not permitted by law, regulation, or community standards.
Cultural References
In popular culture, illegal activities are often depicted in films, literature, and music.
Idiomatic Expressions or Phrases
Example: “Illegal street racing” or “Illegal drug trade”
Related Words or Phrases
Criminal, unauthorized, illicit, unlawful, unethical, etc.
Collocations
Example: “Illegal immigrant”, “Illegal drugs”, “Illegal activities”
Frequency of Use
In modern language, “Illegal” is commonly used to describe activities that violate laws, regulations, or societal norms.
Common Misspellings
illegle, illagal, iligal, illegl