Refine this word faster

Stronger alternatives Opposite tone Use in context Cross-language nuance

Illegal

//ɪˈli.ɡəl// adj, noun, slang

Definitions

Adjective

1
Contrary to, forbidden, or not authorized by law, especially criminal law.
"This is illegal, you know!"
2
Forbidden by established rules.
"Moving a pawn backward is an illegal move in chess."
3
Totally fictitious, and often issued on behalf of a non-existent territory or country.
4
Being or doing something illegally. offensive, sometimes
"illegal immigrant"
5
Being an illegal immigrant; residing in a country illegally. US, offensive, sometimes

Adjective

1
prohibited by law or by official or accepted rules wordnet

Noun

1
An illegal act or technique. obsolete
"That whatſoever illegals hath been uſed againſt his friends and ſubjects, by impriſoning them without law, or impoſing fines upon their eſtates, be diſclaimed, and that perſons ſo committed be forthwith diſcharged."
2
Contraband, esp. illegal substances such as drugs. colloquial, in-plural
"…I've got illegals in my bottom…!"
3
An illegal immigrant. colloquial, offensive
"In Manchester and in Aldershot in Hampshire, asylum seeker accommodation was targeted by demonstrators carrying placards that read “deport them, don’t support them” and “no apartments for illegals”."
4
A spy operating abroad illegally and under non-official cover, without visible ties to his or her country’s authorities.
"Anna Chapman, whose glamorous appearance won her more publicity in the Western media than all the other illegals combined, was so successfully deceived by a US sting operation that she handed over her SVR laptop to an FBI agent posing as a Russian."

Etymology

Etymology 1

Borrowed from French illégal, from Medieval Latin illegalis, from Latin legalis, by surface analysis, il- + legal. In senses relating to immigration, via clipping of illegal alien or illegal immigrant.

Etymology 2

Next best steps

Find stronger synonyms See usage examples Check pronunciation

Mini challenge

Unscramble this word: illegal