illegal

illegal

/ɪˈliːɡl/

​not allowed by the law

illegal drugs/firearms/substances

She promised to crack down on illegal immigration.

illegal immigrants/aliens

His illegal activities landed him in jail several times.

illegal mining/fishing/gambling

These proposals are unethical and possibly illegal.

it is illegal to do something It's illegal to drive through a red light.

it is illegal for somebody to do something It is illegal for anyone under 18 to possess fireworks in a public place.

Collocations

verbs

adverb

illegal

/ɪˈliːɡl/

(especially North American English, disapproving, often offensive)

​a person who lives or works in a country illegally

Word Origin

early 17th cent.: from French illégal or medieval Latin illegalis, from Latin in- ‘not’ + legalis ‘according to the law’.

e.g.