Word
unlawfully
Phoneticsun·law·ful·ly, stress on the second syllable
US/ənˈɫɔfəɫi/
UK/ʌnlˈɔːfəli/
Adverb of manner
Definition
adv. in a way that is against the law. You use this to describe actions that are illegal or not allowed by official rules.
adv. in a manner that contravenes established law or legal statutes. Often used in legal or formal contexts to describe prohibited actions.
Examples
“The company was accused of unlawfully sharing private data.”
“The court ruled that the evidence had been obtained unlawfully and could not be used during the trial.”
“The investigation revealed that the former executive had unlawfully diverted millions of dollars into offshore accounts to avoid paying corporate taxes.”
Examples
simple
“The company was accused of unlawfully sharing private data.”
contextual
“The court ruled that the evidence had been obtained unlawfully and could not be used during the trial.”
complex
“The investigation revealed that the former executive had unlawfully diverted millions of dollars into offshore accounts to avoid paying corporate taxes.”
Usage
Typically follows the verb it modifies or appears at the end of the clause.
Pitfall
He was unlawfully of the crime.
He acted unlawfully.
Unlawfully is an adverb and must modify a verb or action, not a person or state of being directly.
Real-World Examples
“It is behind only a €1.2bn ($1.4bn) fine imposed on Meta by Ireland in 2023 for unlawfully transferring European Facebook users’ data to the United States.” “They have no idea they are in the country unlawfully.” Etymology
From unlawful + -ly or un- + lawfully.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- 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
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/unlawfully