In law, unlawful means: Not allowed by law, whether it breaks criminal law, civil law or a regulation; the opposite of lawful.
In Turkish: hukuka aykırı, kanuna aykırı, haksız
How it is used
A neutral, formal word in judgments and statutes: 'unlawful act', 'unlawful discrimination', 'unlawful detention', 'declared unlawful'. Courts reviewing official decisions often have to decide whether they were lawful or unlawful.
Example sentences
The court found that the dismissal was unlawful.
Recording the meeting without consent may be unlawful in some countries.
Common collocations
unlawful act
unlawful discrimination
unlawful detention
declared unlawful
unlawful interference
Related terms
legalConnected with the law or the legal system; also allowed by the law, the opposite of illegal.
tortA wrongful act, other than a breach of contract, that causes harm to another person and allows them to claim compensation in a civil court.
rule of lawThe principle that everyone, including the government and officials, must follow the law, and that laws are applied fairly by independent courts.
infringeTo break a law or go against someone's legal right, especially an intellectual property right such as a patent, trademark or copyright.
judicial reviewThe power of courts to check whether decisions or laws made by public authorities are lawful, and to cancel them if they are not.
