Definitions for illegalɪˈli gəl

Random House Webster's College Dictionary

il•le•gal^*ɪˈli gəl(adj.)

forbidden by law or statute.
Category: Law
contrary to or forbidden by official rules or regulations.
Category: Sport
(n.)an illegal immigrant.
Category: Common Vocabulary

^* Syn: illegal , unlawful , illicit , criminal describe actions not in accord with law. illegal refers to violation of statutes or, in games, codified rules: an illegal seizure of property; an illegal block in football. unlawful is a broader term that may refer to lack of conformity with any set of laws or precepts, whether natural, moral, or traditional: an unlawful transaction. illicit most often applies to matters regulated by law, with emphasis on the way things are carried out: the illicit sale of narcotics. criminal refers to violation of a public law that is punishable by a fine or imprisonment: Robbery is a criminal act.

Origin of illegal:

1620–30; < ML

il•le′gal•ly(adv.)

Princeton's WordNet

illegal(adj)
prohibited by law or by official or accepted rules
"an illegal chess move"

Kernerman English Learner's Dictionary

illegal(adjective)ɪˈli gəl
against the law
illegal substances; It is illegal to drink alcohol under the age of 21.

Wiktionary

illegal(Noun)
An illegal immigrant.
illegal(Noun)
An illegal resident spy.
illegal(Adjective)
Contrary to or forbidden by law, especially criminal law.
illegal(Adjective)
Not permitted by rules
Moving a pawn backward is an illegal move in chess.
illegal(Adjective)
Totally fictitious, and often issued on behalf of a non-existent territory or country.
illegal(Adjective)
Being an illegal immigrant; residing in a country illegally.

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

Webster Dictionary

Illegal(adj)
not according to, or authorized by, law; specif., contrary to, or in violation of, human law; unlawful; illicit; hence, immoral; as, an illegal act; illegal trade; illegal love