illicit
adjective
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Illicit and Elicit
Illicit, while not exactly an everyday word, is far more common than its antonym, licit ("not forbidden by law, permissible"). Perhaps this is a function of our oft-noted fascination with bad behavior and boredom with rectitude. In any case, illicit may be used of behavior that is either unlawful or immoral. These categories frequently overlap, but they are not always synonymous, as some unlawful activities (illicit cigarette smoking) may not be considered immoral, while some immoral activities (an illicit affair) are not illegal. Illicit is occasionally confused with elicit because of the similarity in their pronunciations, but the two words have decidedly different meanings and functions: in contemporary English, elicit is a verb meaning "to get (a response, information, etc.) from someone," while illicit appears solely as an adjective.
Examples of illicit in a Sentence
David Ansen, Newsweek, 4 Mar. 2002
"Thank you, Lieutenant," she said, bowing her head, just as she might in everyday, civilian life, and I felt suddenly illicit in her presence, as though we'd slipped out of sight of our chaperons …
—Chang-rae Lee, A Gesture Life, 1999
The companies that carry cellular … have adopted a number of monitoring techniques to detect illicit calls …
—Paul Wallich, Scientific American, March 1994
He was arrested for selling illicit copies of the software.
She had an illicit affair with her boss.
Kristen Rogers, CNN Money, 27 Mar. 2026
Two men who worked as couriers for an illicit delivery service that sold methamphetamine, ketamine and cocaine in the same style as popular restaurant and grocery deliver services were given sentences that did not include any prison time, court records show.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 26 Mar. 2026
Economically depressed, Garberville depends on an illicit economy — cannabis production — that is the town’s most open secret.
—Oline H. Cogdill, Sun Sentinel, 26 Mar. 2026
The organizations said the measure would formalize the militarization of mining zones, historically associated with human rights abuses, corruption and the expansion of illicit economies.
—Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 24 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for illicit
Cite this Entry
“Illicit.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/illicit. Accessed 29 Mar. 2026.
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Legal Definition
illicit
adjective
In re Haas, 48 F.3d 1153 (1995)
