English · Word Candidate

illegal

/ɪˈliːɡəl/

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Also seen as: illegaler · illegalest · illegals

Sense 1

Both English Tiếng Việt

Meaning · English

Contrary to, forbidden, or not authorized by law, especially criminal law.

Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt

trái với luật pháp

Machine-translated — suggest a fix

Adjective

Examples

This is illegal, you know!

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Both English Tiếng Việt

Meaning · English

Forbidden by established rules.

Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt

cấm theo quy định

Machine-translated — suggest a fix

Adjective

Examples

Moving a pawn backward is an illegal move in chess.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 3

Both English Tiếng Việt

Meaning · English

Contraband, esp. illegal substances such as drugs.

Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt

hàng cấm

Machine-translated — suggest a fix

NounRegister: colloquial

Examples

…I've got illegals in my bottom…!

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 4

Both English Tiếng Việt

Meaning · English

A spy operating abroad illegally and under non-official cover, without visible ties to his or her country’s authorities.

Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt

gián điệp hoạt động bất hợp pháp và không chính thức ở nước ngoài

Machine-translated — suggest a fix

Noun

Examples

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.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “illegal” mean?

Contrary to, forbidden, or not authorized by law, especially criminal law.

Is “illegal” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.