illicit

(ĭ-lĭs'ĭt)
adj.

1. Not sanctioned by custom or law; unlawful.
2. Linguistics. Improperly formed; ungrammatical.

[Latin illicitus : in-, not; see in-¹ + licitus, lawful; see licit.]

illicitly il·lic'it·ly adv.
illicitness il·lic'it·ness n.

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adjective

1. Contrary to accepted, especially moral conventions: unlawful. See right/wrong.
2. Prohibited by law: illegal, illegitimate, lawless, outlawed, unlawful, wrongful. See crimes, law.
3. Of, involving, or being a crime: criminal, illegal, illegitimate, lawless, unlawful, wrongful. See crimes.

adj

Definition: not legal; forbidden
Antonyms: blessed, good, legal, legitimate, licit, moral, noble, proper, right

This entry contains information applicable to United States law only.

Not permitted or allowed; prohibited; unlawful; as an illicit trade; illicit inter- course.

IN BRIEF: Unlawful or forbidden.

The illicit substance was stopped by border police.

Tutor's tip: The criminal tried to "elicit" (to draw forth, to evoke) a response from the police by committing two "illicit" (unlawful) acts.

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For a list of words related to illicit, see:

• Vulgar, Rude, Degenerate, or Wild
• Fraud, Treachery, and Deception - illicit: (adj) prohibited by law or custom; not permitted or authorized

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See words rhyming with "illicit."

Dansk (Danish)
adj. - ulovlig, lovstridig, uretmæssig, illegal

Nederlands (Dutch)
onwettig, clandestien, heimelijk

Français (French)
adj. - illicite

Deutsch (German)
adj. - verboten

Ελληνική (Greek)
adj. - αθέμιτος, έκνομος, παράνομος

Italiano (Italian)
illecito

Português (Portuguese)
adj. - ilícito

Русский (Russian)
незаконный

Español (Spanish)
adj. - ilícito

Svenska (Swedish)
adj. - olovlig, olaglig, smyg-

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
非法的, 违禁的, 不法的, 不正当的

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
adj. - 非法的, 違禁的, 不法的, 不正當的

한국어 (Korean)
adj. - 불법의, 부정한, 금제의

日本語 (Japanese)
adj. - 不法な, 禁制の, 違法の

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(صفه) محظور, محرم‏

עברית (Hebrew)
adj. - ‮לא-חוקי, אסור‬

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