🇬🇧🇪🇸 unlawful - ilegal : English Lesson

Meaning of "unlawful" ("ilegal"), detailed definition, and a short video lesson below.

"Unlawful" is an adjective used to describe actions or behaviors that are not permitted by law. It refers to anything that is illegal or against the rules set by authorities. Unlawful activities can range from minor infractions to serious crimes.

Watch and listen to this English flashcard to understand the word in more detail, with an easy example sentence.

It should be unlawful to have math tests on Mondays—it’s just cruel.

The dog's unlawful theft of the Thanksgiving turkey was caught on camer

My dad says it’s unlawful to touch the thermostat, and I believe him.

His unlawful attempt to climb the bookshelf ended in a book avalanche.

My brother tried to declare bedtime unlawful, but Mom overruled him.

A child sees a man steal a shop sign. She cries, "That's unlawful!" The man hides the sign; she cries again, "Unlawful!" she runs to a police officer and shouts, "This is unlawful, he stole it!" The officer returns the sign and warns, "Stealing is unlawful — taking it is unlawful." The man leaves, ashamed, and the child smiles.

This word is at the C2 level, which means it represents the highest mastery of English. It’s often used in specialized or highly formal contexts and helps you communicate with precision and subtlety, much like a native speaker.

Expanding your English vocabulary is one of the best ways to improve your pronunciation, spelling, and confidence in English. Watch the video above to memorize the word, understand its meaning, and see example sentences in action. Discover related words to grow your vocabulary naturally. Add words to your playlist for stress-free, effective learning—anytime, anywhere! Watch, learn, repeat.