Illegal vs. Lawful

Contrary to or forbidden by law, especially criminal law.

Example: ‘This is illegal, you know!’; ‘Nearly 40 million people live in UK areas with illegal air pollution’; ‘their illegal mining operations in Asia, Africa and elsewhere, are protected by officials and police paid to look the other way – and powerful customers in the construction industry who prefer not to ask too many questions.’;

Forbidden by established rules.

Example: ‘Moving a pawn backward is an illegal move in chess.’;

Totally fictitious, and often issued on behalf of a non-existent territory or country.

Being or doing something illegally.

Example: ‘illegal immigrant;’; ‘illegal logger;’; ‘illegal pilot’;

Being an illegal immigrant; residing in a country illegally.

(obsolete) An illegal act or technique.

Contraband, esp. illegal substances such as drugs.

An illegal immigrant.

(espionage) A spy working abroad illegally and undercover, without visible ties to his or her country’s authorities.

Not according to, or authorized by, law; specif., contrary to, or in violation of, human law; unlawful; illicit; hence, immoral; as, an illegal act; illegal trade; illegal love.

prohibited by law or by official or accepted rules;

Example: ‘an illegal chess move’;

(legal) Conforming to, or recognised by the laws of society.

Example: ‘Lawful money is always a land asset and can only be issued by an actual land jurisdiction government — not a corporation.’;

Operating according to some law or fundamental principle.

(role-playing games) A character having a lawful alignment.

Conformable to law; allowed by law; legitimate; competent.

Constituted or authorized by law; rightful; as, the lawful owner of lands.

conformable to or allowed by law;

Example: ‘lawful methods of dissent’;

according to custom or rule or natural law

having a legally established claim;

Example: ‘the legitimate heir’; ‘the true and lawful king’;

authorized, sanctioned by, or in accordance with law;

Example: ‘a legitimate government’;