unlawful
Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.
Meaning · English
Prohibited; not permitted by law (either civil or criminal law; see illegal)
Adjective
Examples
He was charged with unlawful use of a car.
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 “unlawful” mean?
Prohibited; not permitted by law (either civil or criminal law; see illegal)
Is “unlawful” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.