illegal
Contrary to, forbidden, or not authorized by law, especially criminal law.
Adjective 3 meanings
Contrary to, forbidden, or not authorized by law, especially criminal law.
“This is illegal, you know!”
Forbidden by established rules.
“Moving a pawn backward is an illegal move in chess.”
Totally fictitious, and often issued on behalf of a non-existent territory or country.
Noun 2 meanings
Contraband, esp. illegal substances such as drugs.
A spy operating abroad illegally and under non-official cover, without visible ties to his or her country’s authorities.
Etymology
Borrowed from French illégal, from Medieval Latin illegalis, from Latin legalis, by surface analysis, il- + legal. In senses relating to immigration, via clipping of illegal alien or illegal immigrant.
Similar and opposite words
ILLEGAL at a glance
ILLEGAL has 7 letters and scores 8 points in Scrabble (I 1 + L 1 + L 1 + E 1 + G 2 + A 1 + L 1) and 12 in Words With Friends, before board bonuses. It ranks #2,063 by how often it appears in everyday English. It is valid in ENABLE, NWL2023, Collins/SOWPODS.
Rhymes with illegal
All rhymes- LEGAL6
- REGAL6
- FUNGAL10
- FRUGAL10
- CENTRIFUGAL17
- DONEGAL9
- PRODIGAL12
- PARALEGAL12
- ALGAL6
- CONJUGAL18
- ANTIFUNGAL14
- MADRIGAL12
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