unlawful

[uhn-law-fuhl]

adjective

1. not lawful; contrary to law; illegal.

   Synonyms: illicit

2. born out of wedlock; illegitimate.

   Synonyms: natural, bastard

unlawful

/ ʌnˈlɔːfʊl /

adjective

1. illegal

2. illicit; immoral

   unlawful love

3. an archaic word for illegitimate

Other Word Forms

• unlawfully adverb
• unlawfulness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of unlawful¹

First recorded in 1250–1300, unlawful is from the Middle English word unlaweful. See un- ¹, lawful

Synonym Study

See illegal.

Example Sentences

However, this and other aspects of the act were later ruled unlawful.

From BBC

Headlines continued to amass all throughout Taylor Swift’s record-breaking Eras Tour as several fans took their complaints with the ticket seller to court, suing for “unlawful conduct.”

From Los Angeles Times

Contemporary reports by US government officials recount more incidents of "arbitrary and unlawful killings, kidnappings, torture and other cruel and inhuman or degrading treatment."

From BBC

The seven men who admitted using or threatening unlawful violence with others present, causing those who were present to fear for their safety were:

From BBC

In January, the publisher of the Sun newspaper agreed to pay "substantial damages" and apologised to him settle a long-running legal battle over claims of unlawful intrusion into his life.

From BBC

Related Words

• illegal 
• illegitimate 
• illicit 
• improper 
• lawless 
• nefarious 
• prohibited 
• unauthorized 
• wrongful