Have you ever been confused by the definition of illicit? This article will provide you with all of the information you need on the word illicit, including its definition, etymology, usage, example sentences, and more!
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According to Collins English Dictionary and the American Heritage Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language, the word illicit is an adjective which means not allowed or approved, outside social norms, or illegal in contemporary English. Illicit is three syllables – il-li-cit, and the pronunciation of illicit is ɪˈlɪsɪt. Many things can be illicit, including an illicit affair, the use of illicit drugs, illicit drug use, illicit love, and illicit career, illicit intimacy, illicit SEO tactics, illicit financing, illicit funds, an illicit association that takes unlawful measures, a lack of secual morality, an illegitimate seizure of power, lacking sexual morality, an invalid outlaw strike, illicit goods brought from Mexico, an illicit relationship between young people, illicit sexual relations, illicit trips, adultery, an illicit engagement and more.
Many different languages also contain words that mean illicit. You may notice that some of these translations of illicit look and sound similar to one another. These are called cognates, which are words and phrases in different languages that likely have the same root or language of origin, causing them to sound the same. The below list of translations of illicit is provided by Word Sense.
According to Etymonline, the word illicit has been used since c16 and comes from the Old French illicite and Latin illicitus. This comes from the Latin in and Latin licitus, which is the past participle of licere.
How can the word illicit be used in a sentence?
The word illicit can be used in many different contexts in the English language. Trying to use a word in a sentence is one of the best ways to memorize its definition and add it to your vocabulary, but you can also try making flashcards or quizzes that test your knowledge. Try using this word of the day in a sentence today! Below are a couple of examples of the word illicit that can help get you started incorporating this word into your vocabulary.
The man made an illicit trade with the maid. It was not illegal but it was bad for ethical reasons.
The workers at Harpercollins Publishers and William Collins Sons made illicit copyright suits.
The man made an illicit reveal to the press to obtain the fortune of his grandfather. He revealed his drinking problem that led to the death of his widow.
What are synonyms and antonyms of illicit?
There are many different words that one can use in place of the word illicit (adj.). These are considered synonyms, which are words that have the same definition as another word or phrase. Synonyms are useful to know if you are trying to avoid repeating yourself or if you are looking to expand your vocabulary. This list of synonyms for the word illicit is provided by Power Thesaurus.
proscribed
contrary to law
tabu
felonious
unapproved
off-limits
off limits
furtive
not approved
verboten
unauthorized
not legal
not allowed
warrantless
iniquitous
closed down
irregular
pirated
crooked
under the table
indictable
against the law
immoral
forbidden
dishonest
wrongful
nefarious
fatherless
foul
hotter
shady
outlawed
misbegotten
unwarranted
bootleg
in violation of law
smuggled
unsanctioned
banned
unallowed
criminal
punishable
unauthorised
outside the law
unmentionable
invalid
extramarital
evil
outlaw
in holes and corners
unlicensed
sneaky
unjust
under the counter
unconstitutional
wicked
wrong
unethical
prohibited
bootlegged
out of bounds
underground
extracurricular
interdicted
uncertified
corrupt
clandestine
vetoed
illegitimate
contraband
illicitly
undue
not permitted
extralegal
lawless
illegal
impermissible
secret
illegality
nonlicit
unlawful
adulterous
taboo
improper
unofficial
villainous
dirty
wildcat
unacceptable
barred
disallowed
fraudulent
black-market
illegitimation
abominable
restricted
under-the-counter
reprehensible
sinful
actionable
There are also many different words that have the opposite meaning as the word illicit. These are considered antonyms. Antonyms are also very useful to know if you want to expand your vocabulary and knowledge of the English language. This list of antonyms for the word illicit is also provided by Power Thesaurus.
Overall, the word illicit means illegal or outside the realm of social norms. This word is Latin in origin. Try using this word in a sentence today to learn its definition!
Kevin Miller is a growth marketer with an extensive background in Search Engine Optimization, paid acquisition and email marketing. He is also an online editor and writer based out of Los Angeles, CA. He studied at Georgetown University, worked at Google and became infatuated with English Grammar and for years has been diving into the language, demystifying the do's and don'ts for all who share the same passion! He can be found online here.
Kevin
October 10, 2021
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