illegal
gb/ɪlˈiɡəl/ us/ɪlˈiɡəl/
A2
English
~ 3600
illegális, tilos, törvényellenes
A2
1
Usage pattern:
[something] is illegal
It is illegal to park here without a permit.
Engedély nélkül tilos itt parkolni.
Selling alcohol to minors is illegal in most countries.
A legtöbb országban törvényellenes kiskorúaknak alkoholt árusítani.
The company was fined for illegal dumping of waste.
Downloading copyrighted movies without permission is illegal.
They were arrested for carrying illegal weapons.
Learner examples
It is illegal to steal.
Lopni tilos.
Smoking in this building is illegal.
Ebben az épületben tilos a dohányzás.
Driving without a license is illegal.
It is illegal to hurt animals.
Selling fake money is illegal.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'illegal' with 'immoral'. Something immoral is not always illegal, and vice versa.
Meaning
Not permitted by law
Collocations
illegal activity
|illegal drugs
|illegal immigration
|illegal trade
|illegal download
Synonyms
unlawful (Slightly more formal and legalistic than 'illegal', but generally interchangeable.)
|
illicit (Often used for morally disapproved or socially taboo activities, not only legally prohibited ones.)
Antonyms
legal (Allowed by law; the direct opposite of 'illegal' in legal contexts.)
|
lawful (Formally correct according to the law; more formal than 'legal'.)
Themes
law
|government
|society
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Not allowed by the law or rules.
Prohibited by official law or rules; against the law.
Grammar
Dictionary form
illegal
IPA
GB/ɪlˈiɡəl/
US/ɪlˈiɡəl/
Syllables & stress
il - leg - al (3 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (leg)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: illegal
Word family
Expressions
illegal download
1/ɪlˈiɡəl dˈaʊnlˌoʊd/
fixed phrase
Downloading without permission
Getting music, movies, or other files from the internet without paying or having permission, which is against the law.
Examples
- The website was shut down for offering illegal downloads.
- He was fined for having hundreds of illegal downloads on his computer.
illegal drug
1/ɪlˈiɡəl dɹˈʌɡ/
fixed phrase
Drug banned by law
A drug that is not allowed to be made, sold, or used by law.
Examples
- He was arrested for selling illegal drugs.
- The police are cracking down on the import of illegal drugs.
illegal trade
1/ɪlˈiɡəl tɹˈeɪd/
fixed phrase
Prohibited buying or selling
The act of buying or selling things that are not allowed by law.
Examples
- Authorities are working to stop the illegal trade in endangered animals.
- Illegal trade harms local economies and wildlife.
illegal activity
1/ɪlˈiɡəl æktˈɪvɪti/
fixed phrase
Action forbidden by law
An act that is not allowed by law.
Examples
- Police are cracking down on illegal activities in the city center.
- The police are investigating reports of illegal activity in the area.
- The company was fined for illegal activities involving toxic waste.
- Illegal activity will not be tolerated on these premises.
illegal immigrant
1/ɪlˈiɡəl ˈɪmɪɡɹənt/
fixed phrase
Person without legal residency
A person who lives in a country without the legal right to be there.
Examples
- The debate over illegal immigrants is very heated.
- The government is debating policies on illegal immigrants.
- An illegal immigrant was found working without authorization.
- She was accused of employing illegal immigrants at her restaurant.