Cool MateIllegal vs It's against the law
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Illegal
FormalTop 2,000 (common)B1adjective
It's against the law
FormalTop 5,000 (fairly common)
Most common: Illegal
| Illegal | It's against the law | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ɪˈliːɡ(ə)l//🇺🇸 //ɪˈlɪɡəl// | 🇬🇧 //ɪts əˈɡeɪnst ðə lɔː//🇺🇸 //ɪts əˈɡeɪnst ðə lɔ// |
| Meaning | Not allowed by law. | It is illegal. |
| Example | Driving without a license is considered illegal. | Driving without a license is really {{highlight}}against the law{{highlight}}. |
| Register | Formal | Formal |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 5,000 (fairly common) |
| CEFR level | B1 | - |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | illegal activity, illegal immigration, illegal drugs, illegal parking | against the rules, against the regulations, against public policy |
| Antonyms | legal, permissible, lawful | it's legal, it's allowed |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'unlawful', which can have a broader meaning., Using 'illegal' to describe moral wrongs instead of legal ones., Misusing as a noun instead of an adjective, e.g., saying 'the illegal is punishable' instead of 'the act is illegal'. | Confusing with 'it's legal' meaning allowed., Using with informal language., Misusing in non-legal contexts. |
| Usage notes | Use 'illegal' in formal contexts, especially legal discussions, but also in general conversation. It's not appropriate for casual slang. | Use this phrase in legal contexts or when discussing rules. It's formal and not suited for casual conversations. |
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Frequently asked questions: Illegal vs It's against the law
What's the difference between Illegal and It's against the law?
Illegal: Not allowed by law. It's against the law: It is illegal.
Which is more common: Illegal and It's against the law?
Illegal is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Illegal: Driving without a license is considered illegal. It's against the law: Driving without a license is really {{highlight}}against the law{{highlight}}.
Can I use Illegal and It's against the law interchangeably?
Not always. Illegal and It's against the law are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.