ILLEGAL

illegal

(adjective) prohibited by law or by official or accepted rules; “an illegal chess move”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

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Etymology

Adjective

illegal (comparative more illegal, superlative most illegal)

Contrary to or forbidden by law, especially criminal law.

Forbidden by established rules.

(philately, of an issue printed for collectors) Totally fictitious, and often issued on behalf of a non-existent territory or country.

(of a person, sometimes offensive) Being or doing something illegally.

(chiefly, US, sometimes, offensive) Being an illegal immigrant; residing in a country illegally.

Usage notes

The use of "illegal" to describe a person rather than an action is often regarded as offensive; see below.

Synonyms

• (forbidden by law): criminal, felonious, illicit, unlawful, irregular

• (totally fictitious): bogus

Antonyms

• (forbidden by law): lawful, legal

Noun

illegal (plural illegals)

(obsolete) An illegal act or technique.

(colloquial, plural, as illegals) Contraband, esp. illegal substances such as drugs.

(colloquial, offensive) An illegal immigrant.

(espionage) A spy working abroad illegally and undercover, without visible ties to his or her country’s authorities.

Synonyms

• (illegal immigrant) crimmigrant

Usage notes

• The use of "illegal" as a noun is especially charged.

Anagrams

• gill-ale

Source: Wiktionary

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Il*le"gal, a. Etym: [Pref. il- not + legal: cf. F. illégal.]

Definition: Not according to, or authorized by, law; specif., contrary to, or in violation of, human law; unlawful; illicit; hence, immoral; as, an illegal act; illegal trade; illegal love. Bp. Burnet.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition

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