# unlawfully

/ənˈɫɔfəɫi/ (US) · /ʌnlˈɔːfəli/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Adverb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/unlawfully
Updated: 2026-05-08

## Definition

in a way that is against the law. You use this to describe actions that are illegal or not allowed by official rules.

For teachers: 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.

## Pitfalls

- Not "He was unlawfully of the crime." but "He acted unlawfully." — Unlawfully is an adverb and must modify a verb or action, not a person or state of being directly.

## Usage notes

- Typically follows the verb it modifies or appears at the end of the clause.

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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.