- not allowed by the law
- illegal drugs/firearms/substances
- She promised to crack down on illegal immigration.
- illegal immigrants/aliens
- His illegal activities landed him in jail several times.
- illegal mining/fishing/gambling
- These proposals are unethical and possibly illegal.
- it is illegal to do something It's illegal to drive through a red light.
- it is illegal for somebody to do something It is illegal for anyone under 18 to possess fireworks in a public place.
Extra ExamplesTopics Crime and punishmentb1, Law and justiceb1, Permission and obligationb1- The sale of these knives should be made illegal.
- Their action was judged illegal by the International Court.
- They accused the government of engaging in an illegal war.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs- be
- become
- remain
- …
- highly
- blatantly
- clearly
- …
Word Originearly 17th cent.: from French illégal or medieval Latin illegalis, from Latin in- ‘not’ + legalis ‘according to the law’.Definitions on the go
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illegal