# illicit

> English word · Adjective · IPA /ɪˈlɪsɪt/ · frequency rank #16,498

## Definitions
1. Not approved by law, but not invalid.
2. Breaking social norms.
3. Unlawful.

## Etymology
Borrowed from French illicite, from Latin illicitus, from in- (“not”) + licitus (“allowed, permitted”), from licet (“it is allowed”). By surface analysis, il- + licit.

## Easily confused with
- **implicit** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/illicit-vs-implicit)
- **elicit** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/elicit-vs-illicit)

## Common misspellings (8)
`ilicit`, `ililcit`, `illciit`, `illiccit`, `illicitt`, `illicti`, `illiict`, `lilicit`

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