unlawful

adjective

un·​law·​ful ˌən-ˈlȯ-fəl How to pronounce unlawful (audio)
1
: not lawful : illegal
2
: not morally right or conventional
unlawfully adverb
unlawfulness noun

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
After the incident, the McCloskeys's were were seized by law enforcement, and they were charged with unlawful use of a weapon by St. Louis' former Democratic prosecutor, Kim Gardner. Sophia Compton, FOXNews.com, 3 Aug. 2025 On July 30, the Department of Justice released a memo stating that DEI practices are unlawful and discriminatory. Jordan Green, Nashville Tennessean, 1 Aug. 2025 On July 12, 2024, Valdes was charged with one count each of first-degree assault, armed criminal action and unlawful use of a weapon in Kansas City, according to a Jackson County court document. Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 1 Aug. 2025 Last week, a Miami-Dade Circuit Court judge ruled that the city’s ordinance was unlawful. Miami Herald, 31 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for unlawful

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of unlawful was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Unlawful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unlawful. Accessed 7 Aug. 2025.

Kids Definition

unlawful

adjective
un·​law·​ful ˌən-ˈlȯ-fəl How to pronounce unlawful (audio)
ˈən-
: not lawful : being against the law : illegal
unlawfully adverb
unlawfulness noun

Legal Definition

unlawful

adjective
un·​law·​ful
1
: not lawful : not authorized or justified by law
2
: acting contrary to or in defiance of the law
an unlawful possessor
unlawfully adverb
unlawfulness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on unlawful

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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