illicit behavior

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'illicit behavior' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to behavior that is illegal, forbidden, or otherwise not allowed. Example sentence: Jane was surprised when the police showed up to arrest her brother for his illicit behavior.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & media

Formal & business

Science

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

39 human-written examples

The issue is not just whether Intel's tactics against A.M.D. amount to illicit behavior.

The New York Times

"The last I checked, smoking pot was still illegal, illicit behavior," he said.

The New York Times

In the past decade, Mr. Haydon said, there have been 180 citations for illicit behavior.

The New York Times

He apologized for failing to stop the illicit behavior sooner, and vowed to make amends.

The New York Times

He said a quarter of the company's 75-member staff monitored the community for illicit behavior.

The New York Times

But whatever embarrassing or illicit behavior was going on in Ginsberg's circle he left off camera.

The New York Times - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

21 human-written examples

"Importantly, this is just continuing to point out North Korea's illicit, unlawful behaviors internationally," Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said at the White House daily briefing Monday.

The Washington Post

She went on, "The United States must also continue to enforce existing sanctions and impose additional sanctions as needed on Iran and the Revolutionary Guard for their sponsorship of terrorism, illegal arms transfers, human-rights violations, and other illicit behaviors, like cyber attacks".

The New Yorker

"Having a real, traceable, digital identity can provide the means for which fraudsters can be easily recognized and held accountable for illicit behaviors," said Au.

Forbes

The result is a culture where men think they have no responsibility to change their own sexist attitudes and illicit behaviors.

Huffington Post

To examine the influence of HIV risk behaviors, participants were asked a series of questions regarding sexual behaviors and frequency of illicit drug behavior or alcohol use.

AIDS and Behavior

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Pair the phrase with specific industries to clarify context, such as "illicit financial behavior" or "illicit sexual behavior", as seen in scholarly or news reports.

Common error

Avoid using redundant pairings like "illegal illicit behavior" since "illicit" already implies that the behavior is unlawful or forbidden. Choose one term based on the desired level of formality.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "illicit behavior" functions as a noun phrase consisting of the adjective "illicit" and the noun "behavior". It is used to describe specific actions that violate established laws or ethical standards. According to Ludwig AI, it is grammatically correct and frequently appears in reporting on legal infractions or corporate scandals.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & media

60%

Formal & business

25%

Science

10%

Less common in

Academia

3%

Wiki

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

Based on data from Ludwig, "illicit behavior" is a highly versatile and correct phrase used to describe activities that range from corporate fraud and political corruption to social taboos and illegal substance use. Its usage is predominant in reputable media outlets like The New York Times and The Washington Post, indicating a strong degree of authority and precision. Writers should use this phrase when they need a comprehensive term for unlawful or forbidden acts, especially when a neutral yet serious tone is required. It effectively bridges the gap between strictly legal terminology and general descriptive language.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

illegal activity

Broader term focusing explicitly on violations of criminal law

unlawful conduct

More formal phrasing often used in legal or official documents

prohibited behavior

Emphasizes the violation of specific rules or bans

illicit practices

Suggests a systemic or recurring pattern of wrongdoing

clandestine behavior

Highlights the secretive or hidden nature of the actions

illegitimate actions

Implies a lack of legal standing or formal authorization

shady dealings

More informal and suggests moral ambiguity rather than just illegality

wrongful behavior

Focuses on the ethical or harmful aspect of the act

unauthorized activity

Specifically refers to actions performed without proper permission

under-the-table behavior

Idiomatic expression for hidden illegal transactions

FAQs

How to use "illicit behavior" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe criminal or forbidden acts, like in the sentence: "The investigator uncovered evidence of "illicit behavior" within the firm".

What is a synonym for "illicit behavior"?

You can use terms like "<a href="/s/illegal+conduct" target="_blank" rel="alternative">illegal conduct" or "<a href="/s/prohibited+actions" target="_blank" rel="alternative">prohibited actions" depending on whether you want to emphasize law-breaking or rule-breaking.

Is "illicit behavior" more formal than "shady behavior"?

Yes, "illicit behavior" is much more professional. For a less informal but equally descriptive term, consider "<a href="/s/unethical+conduct" target="_blank" rel="alternative">unethical conduct".

Can I use "illicit behavior" in academic writing?

Absolutely. It is frequently used in scientific studies and journals, such as BMC Public Health, often alongside terms like "<a href="/s/stigmatized+behavior" target="_blank" rel="alternative">stigmatized behavior".