unlawful

unlawful

contrary to law: unlawful search and seizure; born out of wedlock [All of the above describe actions that are not in accord with the law. However, there are some differences in meaning among the words. Illegal refers most specifically to violations of statutes or codified rules: illegal seizure of property. Illegitimate means lacking legal or traditional rights: illegitimate use of privileged information. Illicit most often applies to matters regulated by law with emphasis on the way things are carried out: illicit conversion of property. Unlawful means not sanctioned by law: an unlawful claim to an inheritance.]
Not to be confused with:illegal – forbidden by law or statute: an illegal U-turn; forbidden by official rules or regulations: an illegal block (in football); something that is unacceptable to or not performed by a computer: an illegal operationillegitimate – born out of wedlock: an illegitimate child; not sanctioned by law or custom: an illegitimate action; not in proper grammatical usageillicit – not legally permitted or authorized: an illicit attempt to control the market; unlicensed; prohibited; not permitted by custom; disapproved of or not permitted for moral or ethical reasons

un·law·ful

U0091600 (ŭn-lô′fəl)adj.1. Not lawful; illegal.2. Contrary to accepted morality or convention; illicit.

---

un·law′ful·ly adv.un·law′ful·ness n.

unlawful

(ʌnˈlɔːfʊl) adj1. (Law) illegal2. illicit; immoral: unlawful love. 3. an archaic word for illegitimate unˈlawfully adv unˈlawfulness n

un•law•ful

(ʌnˈlɔ fəl)

adj. 1. not lawful; contrary to law; illegal. 2. born out of wedlock; illegitimate. [1250–1300] un•law′ful•ly, adv. un•law′ful•ness, n. syn: See illegal.

Thesaurus

Adj.	1.	unlawful - not conforming to legality, moral law, or social convention; "an unconventional marriage"; "improper banking practices"improper, unconventionalirregular - contrary to rule or accepted order or general practice; "irregular hiring practices"
	2.	unlawful - contrary to or prohibited by or defiant of law; "unlawful measures"; "unlawful money"; "unlawful hunters"illegal - prohibited by law or by official or accepted rules; "an illegal chess move"corrupt, crooked - not straight; dishonest or immoral or evasivelawful - conformable to or allowed by law; "lawful methods of dissent"
	3.	unlawful - not morally right or permissible; "unlawful love"illicit - contrary to accepted morality (especially sexual morality) or convention; "an illicit association with his secretary"
	4.	unlawful - having no legally established claim; "the wrongful heir to the throne"wrongfulillegitimate - of marriages and offspring; not recognized as lawful
	5.	unlawful - contrary to or forbidden by law; "an illegitimate seizure of power"; "illicit trade"; "an outlaw strike"; "unlawful measures"illegitimate, outlaw, outlawed, illicitillegal - prohibited by law or by official or accepted rules; "an illegal chess move"

unlawful

adjective illegal, criminal, illicit, banned, forbidden, prohibited, outlawed, illegitimate, unlicensed, under-the-table, unauthorized, against the law, actionable employees who believe their dismissal was unlawful

unlawful

adjective1. Prohibited by law:illegal, illegitimate, illicit, lawless, outlawed, wrongful.2. Of, involving, or being a crime:criminal, illegal, illegitimate, illicit, lawless, wrongful.3. Contrary to accepted, especially moral conventions:illicit.4. Born to parents who are not married to each other:baseborn, bastard, illegitimate, misbegotten, natural, spurious.

Translations