Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word illegal. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word illegal, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say illegal in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word illegal you have here. The definition of the word illegal will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition ofillegal, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
Nearly 40 million people live in UK areas with illegal air pollution
their illegal mining operations in Asia, Africa and elsewhere, are protected by officials and police paid to look the other way – and powerful customers in the construction industry who prefer not to ask too many questions.
a.1654, John Selden, “Money”, in Table-Talk, 3rd edition, London: Jacob Tonson, published 1716, page 74:
In all times the Princes in England have done ſomething illegal to get Money: But then came a Parliament and all was well, the People and the Prince kiſt and were Friends, and ſo things were quiet for a while.
Imagine a country where children do nothing but play until they start compulsory schooling at age seven. Then, without exception, they attend comprehensives until the age of 16. Charging school fees is illegal, and so is sorting pupils into ability groups by streaming or setting.
(computing) Describing a programming operation that is not allowed by the operating system.
Usage notes
According to Black's Law Dictionary (2nd edition), "illegal" may mean only that something lacks authority of the law or support from law (that is, that it's not legal), not that it's against the law, but that in ordinary usage it means a violation of the law. The "law" however may be a common-law principle rather than a statute.
The use of "illegal" to describe a person rather than an action is often regarded as offensive; see below.
c.1650, John Spalding, The History of the Troubles and Memorable Transactions in Scotland, from the Year 1624 to 1645, volume II, Aberdeen: T. Evans, published 1792, pages 72–73:
That whatſoever illegals hath been uſed againſt his friends and ſubjects, by impriſoning them without law, or impoſing fines upon their eſtates, be diſclaimed, and that perſons ſo committed be forthwith diſcharged.
“Here’s what I could do,” Eve supposed. “I could slap your head against that wall, while I’m kicking your balls into your belly,” she added to the companion. “And after that, I can have you in restraints while I turn out your pockets. You’re carrying illegals.
Anna Chapman, whose glamorous appearance won her more publicity in the Western media than all the other illegals combined, was so successfully deceived by a US sting operation that she handed over her SVR laptop to an FBI agent posing as a Russian.
2022 August 26, Shaun Walker, “Socialite who charmed Nato staff in Naples was Russian spy, say investigators”, in The Guardian:
Traditionally, illegals have been extremely hard for counterintelligence agencies to find, but in a world of biometric data, facial recognition software and open source investigation possibilities, it has become harder for Russia to keep its illegals below the radar.
Usage notes
The use of "illegal" to describe a person, rather than an action a person has undertaken, is regarded by some as offensive. The use of "illegal" as a noun is especially charged.
↑ 1.01.1“Archived copy”, in (Please provide the book title or journal name), 2013 July 22 (last accessed), archived from the original on 5 June 2013
^ Charles Garcia (2012 July 5) “Why 'illegal immigrant' is a slur”, in Special to CNN, CNN:
When you label someone an "illegal alien" or "illegal immigrant" or just plain "illegal," you are effectively saying the individual, as opposed to the actions the person has taken, is unlawful. The terms imply the very existence of an unauthorized migrant in America is criminal. In this country, there is still a presumption of innocence that requires a jury to convict someone of a crime. If you don't pay your taxes, are you an illegal? What if you get a speeding ticket? A murder conviction? No. You're still not an illegal. Even alleged terrorists and child molesters aren't labeled illegals.
^ Jacob Chamberlain (2013 April 13) “AP Finally Agrees: “No Human Being is Illegal””, in Common Dreams
^ Steve Padilla and Selene Rivera (2016 April 3) “Library of Congress to stop using term 'illegal alien'”, in Los Angeles Times
1) When an adjective is applied predicatively to something definite, the corresponding "indefinite" form is used. 2) The "indefinite" superlatives may not be used attributively.
1) Only used, optionally, to refer to things whose natural gender is masculine. 2) The indefinite superlative forms are only used in the predicative. 3) Dated or archaic