Standard Lemma guide

illegality

noun · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • CMU ARPABET: IH2 L IY0 G AE1 L IH0 T IY0 Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

the state of being illegal

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Topics: law

Examples

  • The criminal was aware of the illegality of his act.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: lawlessness, illegalness

Antonyms: legality, lawfulness, legalness

2

noun

Meaning 2

a defense to the validity of a contract because it was in violation of the law

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable

Topics: law

Examples

  • When sued for refusing to pay for services provided by a prostitute, the customer raised the defense of illegality.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

unlawfulness by virtue of violating some legal statute

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: legality

Broader terms: unlawfulness

Narrower terms: lawlessness, outlawry, infection

History

Etymology

From French illégalité, equivalent to il- + legality or illegal + -ity.

Across languages

Translations

21 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: незаконност (nezakonnost) — (law) the state of being illegal
  • Catalan: il·legalitat — (law) the state of being illegal
  • Czech: ilegalita — (law) the state of being illegal
  • French: illégalité — (law) the state of being illegal
  • Galician: ilegalidade — (law) the state of being illegal
  • German: Illegalität — (law) the state of being illegal
  • Hindi: अवैधता (avaidhtā) — (law) the state of being illegal
  • Irish: neamhdhleathacht — (law) the state of being illegal
  • Irish: aindleathacht — (law) the state of being illegal
  • Irish: mídhlisteanacht — (law) the state of being illegal
  • Irish: neamhdhlíthiúlacht — (law) the state of being illegal
  • Italian: illegalità — (law) the state of being illegal
  • Japanese: 違法 (ihō) — (law) the state of being illegal
  • Japanese: 違法性 (ihōsei) — (law) the state of being illegal
  • Mongolian: хууль бус байдал (xuulʹ bus bajdal) — (law) the state of being illegal
  • Polish: nielegalność — (law) the state of being illegal
  • Polish: bezprawność — (law) the state of being illegal
  • Portuguese: ilegalidade — (law) the state of being illegal
  • Spanish: ilegalidad — (law) the state of being illegal
  • Swahili: uharamu — (law) the state of being illegal
  • Welsh: anghyfreithlondeb — (law) the state of being illegal