Word
unlawful
Phoneticsun·law·ful, stress on the second syllable
US/ənˈɫɔfəɫ/
UK/ʌnlˈɔːfəl/
Definition
adj. not allowed by the law. You use this to describe actions or things that break official rules or legal standards.
adj. contrary to or prohibited by law; not authorized by legal rules. Often used in formal or legal contexts to describe specific acts rather than a person's general character.
Examples
“The judge ruled that the search was unlawful.”
“The company faced heavy fines after the court found their hiring practices to be unlawful.”
“The tribunal concluded that the detention was unlawful because the authorities failed to provide a valid warrant within the required forty-eight-hour window.”
Examples
simple
“The judge ruled that the search was unlawful.”
contextual
“The company faced heavy fines after the court found their hiring practices to be unlawful.”
complex
“The tribunal concluded that the detention was unlawful because the authorities failed to provide a valid warrant within the required forty-eight-hour window.”
Usage
Typically used as an attributive adjective before a noun or as a predicative adjective after a linking verb.
Pitfall
He is an unlawful person
He is a criminal / He committed an unlawful act
Unlawful usually describes actions, objects, or states (like a 'search' or 'possession'), whereas 'criminal' or 'dishonest' is used to describe a person's character.
Real-World Examples
“Aaron Mulhall (31), Clay Farm Drive, Leopardstown Drive, Dublin 18, was charged with unlawful possession of drugs for sale or supply on August 13th at Blackhall Square, Dublin 7.” “On Sunday, two days before parliament’s return from recess, No 10 announced that sentences for unlawful killing would be blocked from the early release scheme.” Etymology
From Middle English unlawful; equivalent to un- + lawful.
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.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL 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: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/unlawful