Unlawful: meaning, definitions and examples

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unlawful

[ ʌnˈlɔːfʊl ]

^{Context #1}

illegal activity

Not conforming to, permitted by, or recognized by law or rules.

Synonyms

criminal, forbidden, illegal, illicit

Examples of usage

His actions were deemed unlawful by the court.
The company was fined for engaging in unlawful practices.
The protest turned violent when it was declared unlawful by the authorities.

Translations

Translations of the word "unlawful" in other languages:

🇵🇹 ilegal

🇮🇳 ग़ैरक़ानूनी

🇩🇪 rechtswidrig

🇮🇩 melanggar hukum

🇺🇦 незаконний

🇵🇱 nielegalny

🇯🇵 違法

🇫🇷 illégal

🇪🇸 ilegal

🇹🇷 yasa dışı

🇰🇷 불법

🇸🇦 غير قانوني

🇨🇿 nezákonný

🇸🇰 nezákonný

🇨🇳 非法

🇸🇮 nezakonit

🇮🇸 ólöglegt

🇰🇿 заңсыз

🇬🇪 უკანონო

🇦🇿 qanunsuz

🇲🇽 ilegal

Word origin

The word 'unlawful' originated from the combination of 'un-' meaning 'not' and 'lawful' meaning 'in accordance with the law'. It has been used in English since the late 14th century, derived from the Middle English 'unlawful'. The concept of unlawfulness has been a core part of legal systems throughout history, with societies establishing rules and regulations to maintain order and justice.