Definitions
- Referring to an action that is against the law or not permitted by law. - Talking about something that is prohibited by law or done without legal authority. - Describing an activity that is not authorized or approved by law.
- Referring to an action that is contrary to or in violation of the law. - Talking about something that is not allowed or authorized by law. - Describing an activity that is done without legal justification or authority.
List of Similarities
- 1Both words describe actions that are against the law.
- 2Both words convey a sense of wrongdoing or illegality.
- 3Both words are adverbs that modify verbs to indicate the manner in which an action is performed.
What is the difference?
- 1Usage: Illegally is more commonly used than unlawfully in everyday language.
- 2Meaning: Illegally emphasizes the fact that an action is not permitted by law, while unlawfully emphasizes the violation of the law itself.
- 3Connotation: Illegally can have a more negative connotation, implying a deliberate or intentional act, while unlawfully can be more neutral, simply indicating a violation of the law.
- 4Legal context: Unlawfully is often used in legal contexts, while illegally is more versatile and can be used in various contexts.
Remember this!
Illegally and unlawfully are synonyms that both describe actions that are against the law. However, illegally emphasizes the fact that an action is not permitted by law, while unlawfully emphasizes the violation of the law itself. Illegally is more commonly used in everyday language and can have a more negative connotation, while unlawfully is often used in legal contexts and can be more neutral.
