What does "illicit" mean?
A banned or unlawful item.
Illicit
/ɪˈlɪsɪt/ adj, noun
adj, noun ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A banned or unlawful item.
- Grammar: illicit is listed as adj, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: unlawful, actionable, adulterine, adulterous.
- Useful contrasts: valid, aboveboard, genuine event.
- Usage evidence: Over the last decade, Estonia has reported that heroin has largely been replaced by fentanyl on the illicit market.
How to use "illicit"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "illicit" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "illicit" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "illicit" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "illicit" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "illicit" is acting as adj, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "unlawful" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "illicit", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A banned or unlawful item.
"A large number of studies, however, have reported that it is rare for the user of 'hard' drugs not to have initiated cannabis use prior to the other illicits."
Adjective
- 1 Not approved by law, but not invalid.
"The bigamous marriage, while illicit, was not invalid."
- 2 Breaking social norms.
"I only can properly enjoy carol services if I am having an illicit affair with someone in the congregation."
- 3 Unlawful.
"Ayşe Erkoç learned long ago that the secret of doing anything illicit in Istanbul is to do it in full public gaze in the clear light of day. No one ever questions the legitimacy of the blatant."
Adjective
- 1 contrary to or forbidden by law wordnet
- 2 contrary to accepted morality (especially sexual morality) or convention wordnet
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"Over the last decade, Estonia has reported that heroin has largely been replaced by fentanyl on the illicit market."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "illicit"?
Common synonyms include: unlawful, actionable, adulterine, adulterous, against the law, anarchic.
How do you use "illicit" in a sentence?
Over the last decade, Estonia has reported that heroin has largely been replaced by fentanyl on the illicit market.
How do you pronounce "illicit"?
Pronounced /ɪˈlɪsɪt/.
Etymology
Borrowed from French illicite, from Latin illicitus, from in- (“not”) + licitus (“allowed, permitted”), from licet (“it is allowed”). By surface analysis, il- + licit.