# illicit

/ˌɪˈɫɪsət/ (US) · /ɪlˈɪsɪt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/illicit
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. illegal

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal

not allowed by law.

For teachers: forbidden by law, rules, or custom; often used to describe trade or activities that are hidden from authorities.

- 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'.

### 2. socially disapproved

adjective · CEFR C2 · Formal · Literary

not allowed by social rules or morals, even if not strictly against the law.

For teachers: 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.

### 3. illegal items

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical · Formal

things that are illegal to own or sell.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- The police are trying to stop the illicit drug trade.
- The investigation uncovered an illicit scheme to move money out of the country without paying taxes.
- While some historians focus on official treaties, others examine the illicit networks of trade that flourished in the shadows of the colonial administration.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.