illegally

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "illegally" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe actions that are against the law or not permitted by legal standards. Example: "The company was fined for operating illegally without the necessary permits."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

What those opposite need to understand is this Government will not provide permanent visas to those who arrive illegally by boat.

The Guardian

He is not working illegally, nor claiming benefits or housing.

The Guardian

If a country is found to have been illegally allowing state aid to favour the businesses, the company will be forced to return the improper gains to the national coffers.

The Guardian

Amnesty International alleges that its communications have been intercepted illegally in breach of its rights to privacy and freedom of expression.

The Guardian

The Syrian government has accused the US senator John McCain, the former French foreign minister Bernard Kouchner and two others of entering the country illegally.

The Guardian

"This is not the first time people who have attempted to leave Sri Lanka illegally have been returned to Sri Lanka and thousands of those people are now living completely normal lives free from harassment," he said.

The Guardian

"This is not the first time people who have attempted to leave Sri Lanka illegally have been returned to Sri Lanka and thousands of those people are now living completely normal lives free from harassment," he told Guardian Australia.

The Guardian - Opinion

But when the Qatari minister for labour visited Kathmandu in April, he was lobbied by Nepalese officials to implement better insurance policies and require employers to pay any fees illegally charged by recruitment agencies.

The Guardian

Mark Harper, the new chief whip, shuffled and smiled, unable to believe his luck, as a man who left the last government having illegally employed a migrant cleaner, once again a big player.

The Guardian - Opinion

People do not know how many people are in the UK illegally.

The Guardian

Doping in the east African country is a growing problem – this year Moses Kiptanui, one of the greatest runners in Kenya's history, said certain athletes "want to get money by all means … by a genuine way or another way" – and, although an anti-doping centre has been set up in Eldoret, the rewards for a successful career, even if achieved illegally, are ample.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing actions that violate specific laws, ensure you accurately identify the relevant legal statutes. For example, specify the law broken when stating someone acted "illegally".

Common error

Don't use "illegally" without specifying the context of the illegality. Instead of just saying "the company operated illegally", clarify what laws were broken, such as "the company operated "illegally" by dumping pollutants into the river".

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "illegally" is as an adverb. It modifies verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs to indicate that an action is performed in a manner contrary to the law. As shown in Ludwig, this usage is quite common.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the term "illegally" functions as an adverb signifying that an action contravenes the law. As Ludwig AI confirms, this adverb is both grammatically sound and widely used. Predominantly found in news and media contexts, "illegally" serves to highlight legal transgressions. To enhance clarity, it's advisable to specify the breached laws when using this term. Alternatives such as "unlawfully" or "illicitly" can provide nuanced meanings depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unlawfully

Focuses more directly on the violation of a specific law.

illicitly

Emphasizes the forbidden or morally wrong nature of the action.

against the law

A more descriptive phrase, highlighting conflict with legal statutes.

in violation of the law

Explicitly states the action breaks a law or regulation.

contrary to law

A formal way of saying something goes against legal principles.

without legal authority

Indicates a lack of proper authorization or jurisdiction.

by unlawful means

Highlights the process used to achieve an illegal outcome.

not permitted by law

Focuses on the lack of permission from a legal standpoint.

in an unauthorized manner

Emphasizes the lack of proper authorization for the action.

under the table

An informal expression for doing something secretly and illegally.

FAQs

How is "illegally" used in a sentence?

"Illegally" is used to describe an action performed in a manner that violates the law. For example: "The evidence was obtained "illegally" and is therefore inadmissible in court."

What are some alternatives to saying "illegally"?

Alternatives to "illegally" include "unlawfully", "illicitly", or "in violation of the law". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Which is correct: "illegally obtained" or "illegally obtaining"?

"Illegally obtained" is generally used to describe evidence or items acquired in a manner that violates the law. "Illegally obtaining" describes the act of getting something against the law.

What's the difference between "illegally" and "immorally"?

"Illegally" refers to actions that break the law, while "immorally" refers to actions that violate moral principles or ethical standards. An action can be immoral without being illegal, and vice versa.