Legal Dictionary

illegal

Definition of illegal

Etymology

    From il- (an assimilated version of in-) + legal. In senses relating to immigration, via clipping from illegal alien or illegal immigrant.

Pronunciation

  • enPR: ĭ.lēʹgl
  • Rhymes: -iːɡəl

Adjective

illegal (comparative more illegal, superlative most illegal)

  1. (law) Contrary to or forbidden by law, especially criminal law.
  2. Not permitted by rules

    Moving a pawn backward is an illegal move in chess.

  3. (philately, of an issue printed for collectors) Totally fictitious, and often issued on behalf of a non-existent territory or country.
  4. (of an immigrant) Being an illegal immigrant; residing in a country illegally.

Synonyms

Antonyms

  • (forbidden by law): lawful, legal

Derived terms

Noun

illegal (plural illegals)

  1. (colloquial) An illegal immigrant.

References:

  1. Wiktionary. Published under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.



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