Illegal vs. Unlawful: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
Illegal refers to actions that are forbidden by law, while unlawful means not authorized or justified by law.
Key Differences
Illegal actions are those that are specifically prohibited by statute or law, often involving criminal activities. Unlawful, on the other hand, refers to actions that are not authorized or permitted by law, often used in civil law contexts.
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Dec 06, 2023
The term illegal is commonly associated with criminal law, including actions like theft or murder. Unlawful is more broadly applied, including non-criminal violations such as breaches of contract or civil disputes.
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Illegal acts often carry specific legal penalties and are enforced by criminal justice systems. Unlawful acts may result in civil penalties or require adjudication in civil courts.
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The use of illegal is typically more precise, referring to violations of specific codified laws. Unlawful can be more general, encompassing actions that may not be specifically outlined in law but are still not permissible.
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Dec 06, 2023
Illegal is often used in everyday language to describe actions that are clearly against the law. Unlawful might be used in more formal or legal contexts, especially when referring to actions not conforming to legal rules or standards.
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Dec 06, 2023
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Comparison Chart
Association with Law Type
Often related to criminal law
More common in civil law
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Precision in Law
More precise, codified violations
Broader, not always codified
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Illegal and Unlawful Definitions
Illegal
Illegal refers to something forbidden by law.
Driving over the speed limit is illegal.
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Unlawful
Unlawful actions may not necessarily be criminal.
Breaching a contract is considered unlawful.
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Illegal
Illegal means not permitted under official regulations.
Dumping waste in the river is illegal.
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Unlawful
Unlawful means not authorized by law.
Building a house without a permit is unlawful.
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Illegal
Illegal denotes actions against codified rules.
Selling alcohol to minors is illegal.
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Unlawful
Unlawful refers to non-compliance with legal standards.
Discrimination in the workplace is unlawful.
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Illegal
Illegal often pertains to criminal actions.
Hacking into a computer system is illegal.
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Unlawful
Unlawful involves a breach of civil or public law.
Ignoring zoning regulations is an unlawful act.
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Unlawful
Unlawful pertains to actions that lack legal justification.
Terminating an employee without cause can be unlawful.
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Illegal
Unacceptable to or not performable by a computer
An illegal operation.
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Illegal
A person who is not legally authorized to live and work in a country.
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Unlawful
(legal) Prohibited; not permitted by law (either civil or criminal law; see illegal).
He was charged with unlawful use of a car.
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Illegal
Contrary to or forbidden by law, especially criminal law.
This is illegal, you know!
Nearly 40 million people live in UK areas with illegal air pollution
Their illegal mining operations in Asia, Africa and elsewhere, are protected by officials and police paid to look the other way – and powerful customers in the construction industry who prefer not to ask too many questions.
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Illegal
Breaching certain enacted statutes of positive law; not lawful, not legal (cf. immoral, unethical)
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Unlawful
Not conforming to legality, moral law, or social convention;
An unconventional marriage
Improper banking practices
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Illegal
Forbidden by established rules.
Moving a pawn backward is an illegal move in chess.
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Unlawful
Contrary to or prohibited by or defiant of law;
Unlawful measures
Unlawful money
Unlawful hunters
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Illegal
Totally fictitious, and often issued on behalf of a non-existent territory or country.
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Illegal
Being or doing something illegally.
Illegal immigrant
Illegal logger
Illegal pilot
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Unlawful
Having no legally established claim;
The wrongful heir to the throne
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Unlawful
Contrary to or forbidden by law;
An illegitimate seizure of power
Illicit trade
An outlaw strike
Unlawful measures
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Illegal
(espionage) A spy working abroad illegally and undercover, without visible ties to his or her country’s authorities.
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Illegal
Not according to, or authorized by, law; specif., contrary to, or in violation of, human law; unlawful; illicit; hence, immoral; as, an illegal act; illegal trade; illegal love.
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Illegal
Prohibited by law or by official or accepted rules;
An illegal chess move
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Illegal
Illegal activities are those that violate statutory laws.
Shoplifting is considered an illegal act.
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Repeatedly Asked Queries
Are illegal drugs banned by law?
Yes, illegal drugs are substances banned under law.
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Are all illegal acts criminal?
Yes, illegal acts typically involve criminal law.
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Is it unlawful to break a contract?
Yes, breaking a contract is typically considered an unlawful act.
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What are the consequences of engaging in illegal activities?
Consequences can include fines, imprisonment, or other legal penalties, depending on the severity of the offense.
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What does illegal mean?
Illegal refers to something that is forbidden by law.
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Can illegal actions result in imprisonment?
Yes, illegal actions can lead to criminal penalties including imprisonment.
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Is speeding considered illegal?
Yes, speeding is an illegal act as it violates traffic laws.
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Can something be unlawful but not illegal?
Yes, some actions may be unlawful in a civil sense but not criminal.
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Can unlawful actions lead to lawsuits?
Yes, unlawful actions often result in civil litigation or disputes.
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Can an action become legal if the law changes?
Yes, an action can become legal if the law is amended to permit it.
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What does unlawful mean?
Unlawful refers to actions that are not authorized or justified by law.
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Dec 06, 2023
Are there synonyms for "unlawful" that can be used interchangeably?
Synonyms for "unlawful" include "illicit," "prohibited," and "forbidden."
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Can "unlawful" be used to describe both civil and criminal violations?
Yes, "unlawful" can be used to describe violations of both civil and criminal law.
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Dec 06, 2023
Are unlawful acts always criminal?
No, unlawful acts can include civil law violations, not just criminal.
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Dec 06, 2023
Is it important to differentiate between "illegal" and "unethical"?
Yes, it's crucial to distinguish between legality and ethics, as something can be legal but still unethical.
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Dec 06, 2023
Is it important to differentiate between "unlawful" and "legal"?
Yes, distinguishing between the lawful and the unlawful is crucial in understanding the boundaries set by the legal system.
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Dec 06, 2023
Is stealing illegal or unlawful?
Stealing is illegal as it is a criminal act.
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Is there any nuance in the moral connotations of "unlawful"?
"Unlawful" does not inherently carry different moral connotations from "illegal."
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Dec 06, 2023
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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