Definitions and Examples of unlawful, illegal, criminal
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
Not authorized by law; illegal.
Example
The company's decision to dump toxic waste into the river was unlawful and caused environmental damage.
Contrary to or forbidden by law, especially criminal law.
Example
Driving under the influence of alcohol is illegal and can result in severe penalties.
Involving or constituting a crime; unlawful.
Example
The suspect was arrested for his criminal activities, which included theft and fraud.
Key Differences: unlawful vs illegal vs criminal
- 1Unlawful describes actions that are not authorized by law, while illegal refers to actions that are forbidden by law, especially criminal law.
- 2Criminal is a broader term that encompasses all types of illegal activities, while unlawful and illegal are more specific terms.
- 3Judicial refers to the legal system or courts, while unlawful, illegal, and criminal refer to actions or behaviors that are not authorized by law.
Effective Usage of unlawful, illegal, criminal
- 1Legal Writing: Use these antonyms in legal writing to describe illegal activities or behaviors.
- 2News Reporting: Incorporate these antonyms in news reporting to describe criminal activities or violations of the law.
- 3Vocabulary Building: Learn these antonyms to expand your vocabulary and improve your understanding of legal terms.
Remember this!
The antonyms of judicial are unlawful, illegal, and criminal. These words describe actions or behaviors that are not authorized by law or are in violation of the law. Use these words in legal writing, news reporting, or to expand your vocabulary and improve your understanding of legal terms.
