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
Yet the lawyers chosen to represent the colonies nevertheless concluded that lawful government had become an unlawful government.
—
Joseph Andrew,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2026
The court, divided 6-3, ruled that the executive order Trump issued on the first day of his second term was unlawful.
—
Elizabeth Robinson,
NBC news,
1 July 2026
The San Jose Police Department has declared an unlawful assembly and in the name of the People of the State of California, order all those assembled at Santa Clara St and Almaden Ave to immediately disperse, which means to break up this assembly.
—
Tim Fang,
CBS News,
1 July 2026
Jazzlyn Johnson, a spokesperson for Johnson, said in an email that Sanchez-Munoz had been charged with one count of second-degree felony murder, five counts of unlawful use of a weapon and five counts of armed criminal action.
—
Nathan Pilling,
Kansas City Star,
30 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for unlawful
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Joseph Andrew,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2026
The court, divided 6-3, ruled that the executive order Trump issued on the first day of his second term was unlawful.
—
Elizabeth Robinson,
NBC news,
1 July 2026
The San Jose Police Department has declared an unlawful assembly and in the name of the People of the State of California, order all those assembled at Santa Clara St and Almaden Ave to immediately disperse, which means to break up this assembly.
—
Tim Fang,
CBS News,
1 July 2026
Jazzlyn Johnson, a spokesperson for Johnson, said in an email that Sanchez-Munoz had been charged with one count of second-degree felony murder, five counts of unlawful use of a weapon and five counts of armed criminal action.
—
Nathan Pilling,
Kansas City Star,
30 June 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 5 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
unlawful
adjective
un·law·ful
ˌən-ˈlȯ-fəl
ˈən-
: not lawful : being against the law : illegal
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