unlawful

Definition

Prohibited; not permitted by law (either civil or criminal law; see illegal)

Etymology

From Middle English unlawful; equivalent to un- + lawful.

Example Sentences

• "He was charged with unlawful use of a car."
• "That year a U.S. appeals court found the program Snowden had exposed was unlawful and that the U.S. intelligence leaders who publicly defended it were not telling the truth."

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