illicit

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "illicit" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe an activity or thing that is illegal or not allowed according to the law or by a particular set of rules. For example: "The government cracked down on illicit gambling dens operating in the city center."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Speaking at the time, Det Insp Tommy Crombie, drugs co-ordinator at the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland, warned: "PMMA and other harmful substances could be present in many illicit drugs including powders, products sold as legal highs and ecstasy tablets in all sorts of colours and with all sorts of logos.

The Guardian

The Fatima incident was not the only illicit intelligence effort on Americans that JIEDDO conducted.

The Guardian

In part, moral revulsion motivates these underworld gumshoes, though it's also clear that killing children is bad for illicit business.

The Guardian - Film

The 300m pipeline, a few centimetres wide and buried just below the surface, carries water to the entire community from an illicit connection to the mains, created almost a decade ago by a sympathetic employee at Sabesp, the water board.

The Guardian

In 1903, revelations about Poltpalingada's fate sparked a public inquiry that revealed sordid details about the illicit trade in body parts (skeletons £10 apiece) that flourished in Ramsay Smith's morgue.

The Guardian

The two sides have already struck wide-reaching agreements on agrarian reform, political participation for the FARC and how to jointly combat illicit drugs in what was for long time the world's largest cocaine producer.

The Guardian

Meanwhile Farah says he is prepared to speak to seven former members of the Oregon Project, who have spoken privately to the US Anti-Doping Agency with concerns about Salazar's alleged illicit practices and unethical behaviour, to get to the bottom of the matter.

The Guardian - Sport

"Africa loses twice as much in illicit financial outflows as it receives in international aid," said Annan, in his foreword to the 120-page report.

The Guardian - Business

"Like all illicit drugs, there is no way to tell what's in them until it's too late".

The Guardian

EightByFive is said to have solicited illicit political donations and funded election campaigns for central coast Liberal MPs Darren Webber and Chris Spence in return for favours from Hartcher.

The Guardian

One illicit bunk-up later and that dead dog was the least of her worries.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Pair "illicit" with nouns that typically describe activities or substances, such as "trade", "drugs", or "affairs", to clearly convey the illegal or forbidden nature of the subject.

Common error

Be careful not to confuse "illicit", which means unlawful, with "elicit", which means to draw out or evoke. Ensure your writing reflects the correct meaning and context.

Linguistic Context

The adjective "illicit" primarily functions to modify nouns, indicating that the noun it describes is forbidden, unlawful, or morally wrong. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

15%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the word "illicit" is an adjective used to describe something that is forbidden or unlawful. According to Ludwig AI, the word is correct and usable in written English. The word appears very frequently in contexts such as News & Media, Formal & Business, and Science. When using the term, be mindful of its potential confusion with the word "elicit". Alternatives include "unlawful", "illegal", or "prohibited". Remember to use "illicit" when you want to specifically denote that something is not just unlawful, but also carries a connotation of moral disapproval or social taboo.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unlawful

Focuses specifically on violation of laws.

illegal

A general term for something against the law.

prohibited

Emphasizes the act of being formally forbidden.

forbidden

Highlights a ban or interdiction against something.

outlawed

Indicates that something has been made illegal.

contraband

Refers specifically to goods that are illegally imported or exported.

unauthorized

Highlights the lack of permission or official approval.

under-the-table

Describes activities conducted secretly and often illegally.

black market

Refers to the illegal trade of goods or services.

bootleg

Specifically refers to illegally produced or distributed goods, often alcohol or recordings.

FAQs

How to use "illicit" in a sentence?

You can use "illicit" to describe activities or goods that are illegal or not morally acceptable, such as "illicit drug trade" or "illicit affairs".

What can I say instead of "illicit"?

Alternatives to "illicit" include "unlawful", "illegal", or "prohibited", depending on the specific context.

Which is correct, "illicit" or "elicit"?

"Illicit" means unlawful or forbidden, while "elicit" means to draw out or evoke. The correct choice depends on the intended meaning. Ensure you're not confusing "illicit" with "elicit".

What's the difference between "illicit" and "illegal"?

While both "illicit" and "illegal" refer to something against the law, "illicit" often carries a stronger connotation of moral disapproval or social taboo compared to "illegal".