American English
/ɪˈli.gl̩/
3 syllables · Stress the second syllable.
not allowed by the law
Practice out loudnot allowed by the law
It is illegal to park in front of this gate.
The company was fined for illegal dumping.
illegal drugs · illegal activity · illegal weapons · illegal parking
It is illegal to + verb
illegal + noun
not allowed by the rules of a game, sport, or other organized activity
The referee stopped the game after an illegal tackle.
That is an illegal move in chess.
In a sport, illegal usually means against the rules, not against the law.
illegal move · illegal tackle · illegal kick · illegal contact
an illegal + noun
be illegal in + game or sport
not having official permission to enter, stay in, or work in a country
The company was fined for employing illegal workers.
She entered the country without permission and was described as an illegal immigrant.
In the U.S., undocumented immigrant often sounds more respectful than illegal immigrant.
illegal immigrant · illegal worker · illegal immigration
illegal + noun
a person who is in a country without official permission to be there
The reporter apologized for calling the man an illegal.
The newspaper no longer uses illegal as a noun for immigrants.
Calling someone an illegal can sound offensive. Say undocumented immigrant or undocumented person instead.
call + someone + an illegal
be called an illegal