illegal
/ɪˈliːɡəl/ · adj
Meaning
- Contrary to, forbidden, or not authorized by law, especially criminal law.
- Forbidden by established rules.
- Totally fictitious, and often issued on behalf of a non-existent territory or country.
- Being or doing something illegally.
- Being an illegal immigrant; residing in a country illegally.
- An illegal act or technique.
- Contraband, esp. illegal substances such as drugs.
- An illegal immigrant.
- A spy operating abroad illegally and under non-official cover, without visible ties to his or her country’s authorities.
Etymology / origin
Borrowed from French illégal, from Medieval Latin illegalis, from Latin legalis, by surface analysis, il- + legal. In senses relating to immigration, via clipping of illegal alien or illegal immigrant.
- legalis(Latin)→
- illegalis(la-med)→
- illégal(French)→
- illegal (English)
- Relations: bor, der, der
Related words
Sources
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