Word
illicit
Phoneticsil·lic·it, stress on the second syllable
US/ˌɪˈɫɪsət/
UK/ɪlˈɪsɪt/
Definitions
01illegal
C1 · Advanced Law Formal
adj. not allowed by law.
adj. forbidden by law, rules, or custom; often used to describe trade or activities that are hidden from authorities.
Español:ilícito
“The police are trying to stop the illicit trade of stolen goods.”
“The investigation uncovered a vast network involved in the illicit trafficking of protected wildlife across international borders.”
Usage
Commonly collocates with nouns like 'trade', 'drugs', 'activities', or 'gains'.
Synonyms
02socially disapproved
C2 · Proficiency Formal · Literary
adj. not allowed by social rules or morals, even if not strictly against the law.
adj. contrary to accepted social or ethical standards; often used in the context of secret relationships.
“They had an illicit romance that they kept secret from their families.”
“The novel explores the tragic consequences of their illicit affair within the rigid social structure of the nineteenth century.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
03illegal items
C2 · Proficiency Plural noun Law Technical · Formal
n. things that are illegal to own or sell.
n. substances or goods that are prohibited by law.
“Customs officers searched the ship for any illicits hidden in the cargo.”
“The new legislation aims to tighten controls on the sale of chemical precursors used to manufacture various illicits.”
Synonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “illicit” in context.
Confusables
Elicit is a verb meaning to draw out a response; illicit is an adjective meaning illegal or forbidden.
RememberElicit = Extract a reaction. Illicit = Illegal.
Real-World Examples
“He was prescribed pregabalin to treat his anxiety, but his mother says he "became addicted" and started boosting his supply by buying the drug from illicit websites.” “This is compounded when illicit commercial industries, known as the “education mafia”, exploit student desperation by stealing and then selling exam papers, something that has become widespread in India and elsewhere.” “The shipments were headed by land across the Afghanistan-West Asia corridor, where the illicit drugs typically travel through Türkiye en route to Europe.” “Criminal networks now draw revenue from illicit and legal sources alike.” Etymology
Borrowed from French illicite, from Latin illicitus, from in- (“not”) + licitus (“allowed, permitted”), from licet (“it is allowed”). By surface analysis, il- + licit.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
- アルファベット
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/illicit
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0