unlawful meaning

unlawful as an adjective

1. not conforming to legality, moral law, or social convention
   • an unconventional marriage
   • improper banking practices

   Synonyms: improper, unconventional

   Similar: irregular

   Related forms: unlawfulness

2. contrary to or prohibited by or defiant of law
   • unlawful measures
   • unlawful money
   • unlawful hunters

   Opposite: lawful

   Similar: lawless, wide-open, wrongful

   Related forms: unlawfulness

3. not morally right or permissible
   • unlawful love

   Similar: illicit

4. having no legally established claim
   • the wrongful heir to the throne

   Synonyms: wrongful

   Similar: illegitimate

   Related forms: unlawfulness

5. contrary to or forbidden by law
   • an illegitimate seizure of power
   • illicit trade
   • an outlaw strike
   • unlawful measures

   Synonyms: illegitimate, illicit, outlaw, outlawed

   Similar: illegal

   Related forms: unlawfulness

How to pronounce unlawful

unlawful is pronounced /ʌnˈlɔːfəl/ in British English and /ənˈlɔfəl/ in American English. It has 3 syllables, with the stress on the second syllable.