[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/illegal/)

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# illegal

adjective (illegal); noun (an illegal — rare, can be rude about people)

«illegal» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. Not allowed by the law; against the rules of a country. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/illegal/#m1)
2. In games: against the rules: «an illegal move». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/illegal/#m2)

### In the lessons

In citizenship and safety lessons: stealing, drink-driving and selling alcohol to children are illegal, and the police can act against them. In everyday life it is illegal to cycle without lights at night in many places or to play loud music late. In sport and games: «an illegal tackle», «an illegal move» in chess.

### Examples

- It is illegal to steal from a shop. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/illegal/#x1)
- Parking here is illegal. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/illegal/#x2)
- Selling cigarettes to children is illegal. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/illegal/#x3)
- The referee said the tackle was illegal. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/illegal/#x4)
- In chess, moving your king into check is an illegal move. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/illegal/#x5)
- Hunting this rare bird is illegal. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/illegal/#x6)
- Is it illegal to ride a bike on the pavement? [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/illegal/#x7)

### Note

«il-» means «not»: legal → illegal (like «illogical»). Double «l»: il + legal. Not everything bad is illegal, and laws differ from country to country. Calling a person «an illegal» is rude; say «a person without legal papers».

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «illegal» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/illegal/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«illegal» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/illegal.html) on Mova free.