Definition of UNLAWFUL
UNLAWFUL Adjective
As an adjective, unlawful describes something that is contrary to or prohibited by law. It denotes actions, behaviors, or conditions that violate legal statutes, regulations, or ordinances established by a governing authority.
Legal Violations: Unlawful actions include various types of legal violations, such as criminal offenses, civil infractions, regulatory breaches, and human rights abuses. These actions are subject to legal penalties or consequences as prescribed by applicable laws.
Criminal Offenses: In the context of criminal law, unlawful refers to activities that constitute crimes under the jurisdiction’s legal code. These offenses range from minor misdemeanors to serious felonies and may encompass acts such as theft, assault, burglary, and drug trafficking.
Civil Infractions: Unlawful conduct can also extend to civil law, where it denotes violations of non-criminal statutes or regulations. Civil infractions, such as traffic violations, zoning violations, and breaches of contract, may result in monetary fines or other civil penalties.
Regulatory Violations: Certain actions may be deemed unlawful due to violations of regulatory laws governing specific industries, professions, or activities. Examples include breaches of environmental regulations, workplace safety standards, financial regulations, and consumer protection laws.
Human Rights Abuses: Unlawful behavior may encompass human rights abuses, such as discrimination, harassment, torture, or extrajudicial killings. These actions infringe upon fundamental rights and freedoms protected by national and international laws and treaties.
Consequences and Enforcement: Engaging in unlawful behavior can lead to various consequences, including legal penalties, civil lawsuits, reputational damage, and social stigma. Law enforcement agencies, courts, and regulatory bodies are responsible for investigating unlawful activities and enforcing applicable laws.
Prevention and Compliance: Preventing unlawful behavior involves promoting legal awareness, educating the public about their rights and responsibilities, and implementing effective regulatory frameworks. Organizations and individuals must strive to comply with legal requirements to avoid engaging in unlawful conduct.
In conclusion, unlawful describes actions, behaviors, or conditions that contravene legal statutes, regulations, or ordinances. Whether referring to criminal offenses, civil infractions, regulatory violations, or human rights abuses, unlawful behavior carries legal, social, and ethical implications that necessitate prevention, enforcement, and compliance efforts.
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Examples of UNLAWFUL in a sentence
- The police arrested him for his unlawful activities.
- It is unlawful to park in front of a fire hydrant.
- She filed a lawsuit against her employer for unlawful termination.
- The company was fined for its unlawful business practices.
- The court ruled that the search was unlawful and violated the suspect’s rights.
- The government passed new legislation to combat unlawful discrimination.
- It is unlawful to possess certain controlled substances without a prescription.
- The protest was deemed unlawful by authorities, leading to arrests.
Etymology of UNLAWFUL
The term unlawful has its linguistic origins deeply rooted in Old English and legal tradition, reflecting the historical evolution of societal norms and legal systems. Its etymology unveils the concept of actions or behaviors that contravene established laws or regulations.
- Etymology and Origins: The term unlawful originates from Old English, where it was formed by combining the prefix “un-” meaning “not” or “against” with “lawful,” derived from “law,” meaning “a rule or regulation established by authority.” This Old English root reflects the notion of actions or behaviors that are contrary to legal standards or societal norms.
- Historical Context: Throughout history, the concept of legality has been central to the functioning of societies, providing frameworks for governance, justice, and social order. The identification and prohibition of unlawful conduct have been essential for maintaining law and order, protecting individual rights, and upholding the principles of justice and fairness.
- Contemporary Significance: In contemporary contexts, unlawful refers to actions, behaviors, or conditions that violate established laws, regulations, or ethical standards. This can include criminal activities, civil infractions, breaches of contracts, or violations of human rights. Addressing unlawful conduct often involves legal proceedings, enforcement actions, and societal efforts to promote compliance and accountability.
The term unlawful symbolizes the enduring importance of legal standards and societal norms in defining acceptable conduct and maintaining order in communities. Its etymological roots from Old English reflect the historical evolution of legal concepts and the ongoing pursuit of justice and fairness in modern societies.
Synonyms
- Illegal
- Illicit
- Prohibited
- Criminal
- Forbidden
- Unauthorized
- Impermissible
- Wrongful
Antonyms
- Lawful
- Legal
- Permissible
- Authorized
- Legitimate
- Law-abiding
- Just
- Rightful
Related
- Illegal
- Criminal
- Wrongful
- Prohibited
- Unjust
- Illicit
- Forbidden
- Unauthorized
🌐 🇬🇧 UNLAWFUL in other languages
| Spanish 🇪🇸 | Ilegal |
| French 🇫🇷 | Illicite |
| German 🇩🇪 | Rechtswidrig |
| Chinese (simpl) 🇨🇳 | 非法 |
| Chinese (trad) 🇨🇳 | 非法 |
| Italian 🇮🇹 | Illecito |
| Portuguese 🇵🇹 | Ilegal |
| Dutch 🇳🇱 | Onwettig |
| Swedish 🇸🇪 | Olaglig |
| Norwegian 🇳🇴 | Ulovlig |
| Finnish 🇫🇮 | laitonta |
| Romanian 🇷🇴 | Ilegal |
| Polish 🇵🇱 | Bezprawny |
| Hungarian 🇭🇺 | Törvénytelen |
| Czech 🇨🇿 | Protiprávní |
| Bulgarian 🇧🇬 | Незаконен |
| Ukrainian 🇺🇦 | Незаконний |
| Russian 🇷🇺 | Незаконный |
| Turkish 🇹🇷 | yasadışı |
| Azerbaijani 🇦🇿 | Qanunsuz |
| Armenian 🇦🇲 | Անօրինական |
| Arabic 🇸🇦 | غير قانوني |
| Hebrew 🇮🇱 | לֹא חוּקִי |
| Urdu 🇵🇰 | غیر قانونی |
| Farsi/Persian 🇮🇷 | غیر قانونی |
| Hindi 🇮🇳 | ग़ैरक़ानूनी |
| Bengaleli/se 🇧🇩 | বেআইনি |
| Marathi 🇮🇳 | बेकायदेशीर |
| Telugu 🇮🇳 | చట్టవిరుద్ధం |
| Tamil 🇮🇳 | சட்டவிரோதமானது |
| Gujarati 🇮🇳 | ગેરકાનૂની |
| Kannada 🇮🇳 | ಕಾನೂನುಬಾಹಿರ |
| Odia (Orya) 🇮🇳 | ବେଆଇନ୍ | |
| Malayalam 🇮🇳 | നിയമവിരുദ്ധം |
| Punjabi 🇮🇳 | ਗੈਰ-ਕਾਨੂੰਨੀ |
| Sinhala/ese 🇱🇰 | නීති විරෝධී |
| Nepali 🇳🇵 | गैरकानूनी |
| Burmese 🇲🇲 | စည်းမဲ့ကမ်းမဲ့ |
| Thai 🇹🇭 | ผิดกฎหมาย |
| Vietnamese 🇻🇳 | trái pháp luật |
| Malay 🇲🇾 | menyalahi undang-undang |
| Indonesian 🇮🇩 | Melanggar hukum |
| Tagalog 🇵🇭 | Labag sa batas |
| Japanese 🇯🇵 | 違法 |
| Korean 🇰🇷 | 불법 |
| Oromo 🇪🇹 | Seeraan ala |
| Somali 🇸🇴 | Aan sharci ahayn |
| Amharic 🇪🇹 | ህገወጥ |
| Swahili 🇹🇿 | Kinyume cha sheria |
| Yoruba 🇳🇬 | arufin |