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Illegal vs. Unlawful: Know the Difference

Shumaila Saeed
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.
Illegal vs. Unlawful

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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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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Comparison Chart

Association with Law Type

Often related to criminal law
More common in civil law
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Common Usage

Specific forbidden actions
Actions not authorized or permitted
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Legal Penalties

Criminal penalties
Civil penalties or adjudication
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Precision in Law

More precise, codified violations
Broader, not always codified
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Typical Context of Usage

Everyday language
Formal, legal contexts
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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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Illegal

Prohibited by law.
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Oct 19, 2023

Unlawful

Unlawful pertains to actions that lack legal justification.
Terminating an employee without cause can be unlawful.
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Illegal

Prohibited by official rules
An illegal pass in football.
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Oct 19, 2023

Unlawful

Not lawful; illegal.
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Oct 19, 2023

Illegal

Unacceptable to or not performable by a computer
An illegal operation.
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Oct 19, 2023

Unlawful

Contrary to accepted morality or convention; illicit.
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Oct 19, 2023

Illegal

A person who is not legally authorized to live and work in a country.
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Oct 19, 2023

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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Unlawful

Not lawful; contrary to law.
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Oct 19, 2023

Illegal

Breaching certain enacted statutes of positive law; not lawful, not legal (cf. immoral, unethical)
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Oct 19, 2023

Unlawful

Not conforming to legality, moral law, or social convention;
An unconventional marriage
Improper banking practices
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Oct 19, 2023

Illegal

Forbidden by established rules.
Moving a pawn backward is an illegal move in chess.
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Oct 19, 2023

Unlawful

Contrary to or prohibited by or defiant of law;
Unlawful measures
Unlawful money
Unlawful hunters
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Oct 19, 2023

Illegal

Totally fictitious, and often issued on behalf of a non-existent territory or country.
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Oct 19, 2023

Unlawful

Not morally right or permissible;
Unlawful love
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Oct 19, 2023

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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Illegal

Being an illegal immigrant; residing in a country illegally.
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Oct 19, 2023

Unlawful

Contrary to or forbidden by law;
An illegitimate seizure of power
Illicit trade
An outlaw strike
Unlawful measures
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Oct 19, 2023

Illegal

(obsolete) An illegal act or technique.
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Oct 19, 2023

Illegal

Contraband, esp. illegal substances such as drugs.
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Illegal

An illegal immigrant.
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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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Oct 19, 2023

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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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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Are unlawful acts always criminal?

No, unlawful acts can include civil law violations, not just criminal.
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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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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
Shumaila Saeed
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Shumaila Saeed
Shumaila 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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