unlawful
adjective
un·law·ful
ˌən-ˈlȯ-fəl 
1
a
: not lawful : illegal
unlawful actions
b
: acting contrary to or in defiance of the law
an unlawful possessor
2
: not morally right or conventional
Examples of unlawful in a Sentence
The sale of alcohol to minors is unlawful.
it is unlawful to set off fireworks within the city limits
Recent Examples on the Web
The British government’s designation of Palestine Action as a terror group has been deemed unlawful by London’s High Court.
—
Callum Sutherland, Time, 13 Feb. 2026
Lawsuits hamper National Guard deployments Every deployment except the one in New Orleans has faced significant legal challenges, with multiple judges ruling the mobilizations unlawful.
—Christopher Cann, USA Today, 13 Feb. 2026
Keith Brow, 58, was taken into custody the next day on one count of first-degree murder, three counts of first-degree robbery, four counts of armed criminal action and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm connected to Linehan's death and robberies involving three other victims.
—Amanda Chen, NBC news, 13 Feb. 2026
Please remember that unlawful behavior will not be tolerated.
—Marissa Perlman, CBS News, 13 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unlawful
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Callum Sutherland, Time, 13 Feb. 2026
Lawsuits hamper National Guard deployments Every deployment except the one in New Orleans has faced significant legal challenges, with multiple judges ruling the mobilizations unlawful.
—Christopher Cann, USA Today, 13 Feb. 2026
Keith Brow, 58, was taken into custody the next day on one count of first-degree murder, three counts of first-degree robbery, four counts of armed criminal action and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm connected to Linehan's death and robberies involving three other victims.
—Amanda Chen, NBC news, 13 Feb. 2026
Please remember that unlawful behavior will not be tolerated.
—Marissa Perlman, CBS News, 13 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unlawful
Cite this Entry
“Unlawful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unlawful. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
unlawful
adjective
un·law·ful
ˌən-ˈlȯ-fəl
ˈən-
: not lawful : being against the law : illegal
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