Pronunciation: [ɪlˈiːɡə͡l] (IPA) 
The word "illegal" is spelled as /ɪˈliːɡəl/ in IPA phonetic transcription. The first sound, /ɪ/, is the short "i" sound as in "sit." The second sound, /ˈliː/, is a long "e" sound followed by the letter "l." The third sound, /ɡəl/, is a hard "g" sound followed by the letters "ə" and "l." This word refers to something that is not legal or allowed by law. It is important to spell words correctly to ensure effective communication.
Illegal refers to something that is prohibited or forbidden by law. It is an adjective that denotes an action, behavior, or object that goes against the legal or regulatory framework established by a governing authority.
When used in the context of activities, such as illegal drug use, it implies that the substances or actions involved are not permitted or authorized by law. This can include the production, distribution, possession, or consumption of drugs that have been declared illegal by a government or legislative body.
Illegal also applies to acts that contravene specific laws, statutes, or regulations. For example, driving a vehicle without a valid license, trespassing on private property, or engaging in fraudulent activities are considered illegal because they defy established legal guidelines. Additionally, illegal acts can extend to activities such as smuggling, human trafficking, or other forms of organized crime that violate multiple laws and regulations.
The term illegal is often used as a way to differentiate between lawful and unlawful actions, behaviors, or objects. It serves as a marker for activities that are deemed unacceptable by the legal system and therefore may be subject to penalties, punishments, fines, or imprisonment.
Contrary to law; unlawful.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "illegal" originated from the Latin term "illegalis", which is a combination of "il-" (meaning "not" or "without") and "legalis" (meaning "legal"). The Latin word "legalis" is derived from "lex" (meaning "law") and had the sense of "pertaining to the law". Over time, with the addition of the prefix "il-", the word "illegalis" came to mean "not according to the law" or "contrary to the law". This Latin term eventually evolved into the English word "illegal", retaining its meaning of something that is against the law or unauthorized.
