illegal
- 01 B1 Intermediate
adj.not allowed by the law.
adj.contrary to, forbidden by, or not authorised by law, particularly criminal or civil statutes.
Simple“It is illegal to drive a car without a valid license.”
In context“The company faced severe penalties after an investigation revealed they had been engaging in illegal dumping of toxic waste for years.”
UsageCommonly used as an attributive adjective before a noun or as a predicative adjective after a linking verb.
SynonymsAntonyms - 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.not allowed by the rules of a game or organization.
adj.forbidden by established rules or regulations within a specific non-legal context, such as sports or corporate policy.
Simple“The referee called a foul because the player made an illegal move.”
In context“The athlete was disqualified for using an illegal substance that was strictly prohibited by the international sporting federation.”
Synonyms - 03 C1 Advanced
n.a person who lives or works in a country without the correct legal documents.
n.an individual residing in a country without official legal authorization or valid immigration documents.
Simple“The news report discussed the challenges faced by illegals living in the city.”
In context“The documentary explores the precarious lives of illegals who work in the agricultural sector without any social protections.”
Teacher's tipThis noun use is considered offensive by many people; 'undocumented immigrant' is the preferred neutral term in professional and academic contexts.
Synonyms - 04 C2 Proficiency
n.a spy who works in a foreign country without any official connection to their own government.
n.an intelligence officer operating under deep cover in a foreign country without diplomatic immunity or official ties to their home state.
Simple“The agency spent years training the illegal to blend into the local community.”
In context“The exchange of captured illegals took place on a bridge at midnight, following months of quiet diplomatic negotiations between the two rival nations.”
Synonymssleeper agentdeep cover agent
Usage illegal settlements · illegal under international · illegal outposts
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 adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.