ENGLISH
REFERENCE

illegals

n. plural-only
C1 Advanced US //ˌɪˈɫiɡəɫz// UK //ɪlˈiːɡəlz// il·le·gals

n. a word used to describe people who live in a country without the legal right to be there. It is often seen as a harsh or offensive way to talk about people.

n. refers to individuals residing in a country without legal authorization or documentation. Often considered dehumanizing or politically charged; many style guides recommend using 'undocumented immigrants' instead.


SIMPLE

The news report discussed the treatment of illegals at the border.

CONTEXTUAL

Politicians often debate how to handle the presence of illegals within the workforce during election cycles.

COMPLEX

Sociologists argue that labeling human beings as illegals shifts the public focus from systemic migration drivers to a purely criminal framework, often complicating the path toward meaningful policy reform.

Usage

Used as a plural noun to refer to a group of people; highly sensitive and often avoided in formal or empathetic writing.

Pitfall

an illegalan undocumented personUsing the word as a singular noun to describe a person is widely considered offensive and grammatically reductive.

© 2026 English Reference