Cool MateForbidden vs Illegal
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Forbidden
FormalTop 3,000 (common)
Illegal
FormalTop 2,000 (common)B1adjective
Most common: Illegal
| Forbidden | Illegal | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //fəˈbɪd.ən//🇺🇸 //fərˈbɪd.ən// | 🇬🇧 //ɪˈliːɡ(ə)l//🇺🇸 //ɪˈlɪɡəl// |
| Meaning | Not allowed or banned. | Not allowed by law. |
| Example | The secret room was strictly forbidden to anyone except the owner. | Driving without a license is considered illegal. |
| Register | Formal | Formal |
| How common | Top 3,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | - | B1 |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | forbidden zone, forbidden love, forbidden activities, forbidden fruit, forbidden city | illegal activity, illegal immigration, illegal drugs, illegal parking |
| Antonyms | allowed, permitted, legal | legal, permissible, lawful |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'prohibited' - both mean similar things, but 'forbidden' is less formal., Incorrectly used as a verb - 'forbidden' is strictly an adjective., Using 'forbidden' in positive contexts - it always suggests something disallowed. | 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'. |
| Usage notes | Used to describe something that is legally or socially unacceptable. Avoid using in casual conversations. | Use 'illegal' in formal contexts, especially legal discussions, but also in general conversation. It's not appropriate for casual slang. |
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Frequently asked questions: Forbidden vs Illegal
What's the difference between Forbidden and Illegal?
Forbidden: Not allowed or banned. Illegal: Not allowed by law.
Which is more common: Forbidden and Illegal?
Illegal is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Forbidden: The secret room was strictly forbidden to anyone except the owner. Illegal: Driving without a license is considered illegal.
Can I use Forbidden and Illegal interchangeably?
Not always. Forbidden and Illegal 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.