# illegal

> English word · Adjective · IPA /ɪˈliːɡəl/ · frequency rank #2,115

## Definitions
1. Contrary to, forbidden, or not authorized by law, especially criminal law.
2. Forbidden by established rules.
3. Totally fictitious, and often issued on behalf of a non-existent territory or country.
4. Being or doing something illegally.
5. Being an illegal immigrant; residing in a country illegally.

## Etymology
Borrowed from French illégal, from Medieval Latin illegalis, from Latin legalis, by surface analysis, il- + legal. In senses relating to immigration, via clipping of illegal alien or illegal immigrant.

## Easily confused with
- **illegally** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/illegal-vs-illegally)

## Common misspellings (8)
`ilegal`, `ilelgal`, `illeagl`, `illegall`, `illeggal`, `illegla`, `illgeal`, `lilegal`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/illegal