illegal environment

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "illegal environment" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation or context where illegal activities are taking place or where laws are not being followed. Example: "The investigation revealed that the illegal environment fostered by the gang led to increased crime rates in the neighborhood."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

Nearly half of the total number of brickfields are considered illegal, threatening the environment and human health.

The Guardian

Most of the sand-mining activity in the NCR region, comprising Noida (Uttar Pradesh), Faridabad (Haryana) and Delhi, is illegal as no environment impact assessment (EIA) has been carried out, and it is estimated that about 250 to 350 truckloads of sand is illegally dredged every day.

Wikipedia

A good chunk of the NYC-originated cultural products you currently enjoy, from disco to hip-hop, exist because they were born and bred outside of the law, in illegal underground subcultural environments.

Vice

Recent government provisions, introduced as part of Theresa May's "hostile environment" for illegal migrants, include making it illegal for landlords to rent properties to undocumented migrants and charging migrants for hospital services.

The Guardian

The ICC's policy paper on case selection and prioritisation declares: "The office [of the prosecutor] will give particular consideration to prosecuting Rome statute crimes that are committed by means of, or that result in, inter alia, the destruction of the environment, the illegal exploitation of natural resources or the illegal dispossession of land".

The Guardian

That applies to the drug trade, gun smuggling, border security, the environment and illegal immigration.

The Economist

"High demand with fixed prices" created the environment for illegal surcharges, Mr. Stone said.

The New York Times

Ordinarily, adding any kind of solid mass to the shallows around New York City is considered an illegal attack on the environment.

Columbia University

If Mr Ringholm does not oblige, he will lose revenues and foster an environment for illegal reselling.

The Economist

They culminated in the 2013 immigration bill that declared the country would become a "hostile environment" for illegal immigrants.

The Guardian

The move is to be part of a sweeping new immigration bill, expected to be published next week, designed to create "a hostile environment" to illegal migrants in Britain.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "illegal environment", ensure the context clearly specifies what makes the environment illegal (e.g., "an "illegal environment" for wildlife trading").

Common error

Avoid using "illegal environment" to describe efforts to protect endangered species. Instead, focus on conservation or protected areas.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "illegal environment" functions as a descriptor, combining an adjective ("illegal") with a noun ("environment") to denote a specific type of setting. Given the data is missing, the overall role of this is difficult to confirm.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "illegal environment" serves as a descriptor for settings characterized by prevalent illegal activities. While grammatically correct, it is not frequently used based on Ludwig's data. When using this phrase, ensure the illegal aspects of the environment are clearly defined. Related phrases include "unlawful setting" and "criminal atmosphere". Given the AI's "RESPONSE_YES", the phrase is indeed usable in written English, albeit rare and potentially requiring contextual clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Unlawful setting

Replaces "illegal" with "unlawful" and "environment" with "setting", focusing on the unauthorized nature of the surroundings.

Criminal atmosphere

Substitutes "illegal" with "criminal" and "environment" with "atmosphere", emphasizing the prevalence of crime.

Illicit surroundings

Replaces "illegal" with "illicit" and "environment" with "surroundings", highlighting the forbidden nature of the place.

Lawless climate

Uses "lawless" to describe the absence of legal control and "climate" to represent the overall condition.

Outlaw territory

Emphasizes the lack of legal enforcement and the presence of outlaws.

Black market milieu

Specifies that illegality happens due to unregulated trade and the word milieu points to a social environment.

Contraband zone

Focuses on the presence of prohibited goods and activities in a particular area.

Underground world

Highlights the hidden and secretive nature of the illegal activities.

Clandestine operation base

Emphasizes the secrecy and planning involved in illegal activities.

Unregulated sphere

Highlights the non-existence of rules or legal controls in that field or place.

FAQs

How can I use "illegal environment" in a sentence?

You can use "illegal environment" to describe a setting where illegal activities are prevalent. For instance, "The investigation revealed that the "illegal environment" fostered by the gang led to increased crime rates."

What are some alternatives to the phrase "illegal environment"?

Alternatives to "illegal environment" include "unlawful setting", "criminal atmosphere", or "illicit surroundings" depending on the specific context you want to convey.

What's the difference between "illegal environment" and "hostile environment"?

"Illegal environment" refers to a place where laws are not followed, while "hostile environment" describes a situation where someone feels uncomfortable or threatened, which is commonly used for immigration policy.

Is it accurate to describe a digital space with piracy as an "illegal environment"?

Yes, it can be accurate. A digital space where copyright infringement and piracy are rampant can be accurately described as an "illegal environment".