adjective / noun
illegal
ih-LEE-guhl/ɪˈliːɡl/
Contrary to the requirements of law.
A park ranger stops an illegal entry into a protected area.
Etymology
Latin legalis described what pertained to law. With the negative prefix, illegal means contrary to law, not simply unrelated to legal matters.
In context
that's illegal we're not part we're not allowed to be partisan houses of worship aren't either although some of them do it
More examples
- Selling alcohol to minors is illegal.
- The referee penalizes the team for an illegal substitution.
- Calling undocumented immigrants "illegals" is often considered offensive.
Forms
illegal · illegals
illegally adverb — In a way that violates the law.
illegality noun — The state of being against the law.
Similar words
- unlawful
- Directly describes a violation of law, not merely official rules.
- illicit
- Often suggests secret or socially disapproved activity, not necessarily lawbreaking.
- prohibited
- Means expressly forbidden, whether by law, policy, or individual authority.