illegality
State of lawbreaking
Illegality is the state of being against the law.
The noun can refer to the quality itself or to specific unlawful acts: The illegality of the search was obvious, The investigation uncovered financial illegalities.
Unlike criminality, illegality covers violations of civil and regulatory law as well as criminal statutes.
Violation of rights
- breachBreaking of agreement
- contraventionAct violating a rule
- transgressionViolation of law or code
- noncomplianceFailure to follow requirements
trespass · infraction · flouting · disobedience · defiance · encroachment · overstepping · dereliction
Officially disallowed
- outlawedForbidden by law
- forbiddenNot allowed
- contrabandProhibited trade goods
- interdictedProhibited by decree
embargoed · barred · censored · restricted · off-limits · illicit · unlicensed · unauthorized
Corrupt payment for influence
- embezzlementFraudulent taking of entrusted assets
- graftIllicit political gain
- kickbacksIllegal return payments
- nepotismPreferring kin in hiring
cronyism · racketeering · misappropriation · skimming · venality · fraud · payola · sleaze
Serious criminal offense
- misdemeanorLesser criminal charge
- theftUnlawful taking of property
- fraudIntentional criminal trickery
- arsonCriminal deliberate burning
burglary · assault · robbery · larceny · vandalism · kidnapping · homicide · smuggling
Unjust exercise of power
- discriminationUnjust differential treatment
- inequityUnfair distribution or treatment
- tyrannyOppressive, absolute governance
- exploitationSelfish use of others
persecution · victimization · disparity · apartheid · segregation
infringement
Violation of rights
- breachBreaking of agreement
- contraventionAct violating a rule
- transgressionViolation of law or code
noncompliance · trespass · infraction · flouting · disobedience · defiance · encroachment · overstepping · dereliction · nonobservance
banned
Officially disallowed
- outlawedForbidden by law
- forbiddenNot allowed
- contrabandProhibited trade goods
interdicted · embargoed · barred · censored · restricted · off-limits · illicit · unlicensed · unauthorized · bootleg
bribery
Corrupt payment for influence
- embezzlementFraudulent taking of entrusted assets
- graftIllicit political gain
- kickbacksIllegal return payments
nepotism · cronyism · racketeering · misappropriation · skimming · venality · fraud · payola · sleaze · patronage
felony
Serious criminal offense
- misdemeanorLesser criminal charge
- theftUnlawful taking of property
- fraudIntentional criminal trickery
arson · burglary · assault · robbery · larceny · vandalism · kidnapping · homicide · smuggling · counterfeiting
oppression
Unjust exercise of power
- discriminationUnjust differential treatment
- inequityUnfair distribution or treatment
- tyrannyOppressive, absolute governance
exploitation · persecution · victimization · disparity · apartheid · segregation
- contract defectsduress, fraud, misrepresentation, mistake, nullity
- violationsviolation, infractions, infraction, breach, consent violation
- contractsbinding contracts, contract length, lease, clause, contract terms
- contract lawobligation, performance, capacity, breach, contract terms
- contract dischargedischarge, novation, rescission, termination, performance
- judicial reviewjudicial review, constitutional review, mandamus, prohibition, judicial oversight
illegalitylegality
Conformance with law
lawfulness · legitimacy · legalization · legal compliance · legal standing
illegalityjustice
Fair treatment under law
righteousness · propriety · legitimacy · rectitude · rightfulness
illegalize, illegalizing, illegalities, illegalized, illegalization