Illicit
/ɪˈlɪsɪt/
adjectiveC1
Definition
Illicit describes actions, things, or behaviors that are against the law or rules. It means something is not permitted by official or social standards. People often use it to talk about activities that are secret because they are forbidden.
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See It in Action
Forbidden by law or rules
- •He was arrested for selling illicit drugs.
- •The police are trying to stop illicit trade across the border.
- •Illicit activities often happen in secret places.
Not allowed by social or official standards, often secret or hidden
- •They had an illicit relationship that no one knew about.
- •The company was fined for illicit financial practices.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "illicit" like "illegal" (A2 word), but often used for secret or hidden bad actions, not just clear crimes
- ✓Picture a secret meeting happening at night where people do something they should not do
- ✓It’s the feeling when you know something is wrong or forbidden, like sneaking candy before dinner
- ✓Sounds like "ill-licit" → imagine something "ill" (bad) and "licit" (allowed), so "illicit" means not allowed and bad
- ✓Think of movies where characters hide illicit deals or secret plans that are against the law
- ✓NOT like "legal" (allowed by law), illicit means the opposite—against the law or rules
- ✓NOT like "immoral" (wrong in a moral sense), illicit focuses on breaking laws or rules, not just morals
- ✓NOT like "accidental" (not planned), illicit is always intentional and secret because it breaks rules
Try Other Words
- •Illegal: against the law (Use when you want to focus on breaking the law clearly)
- •Forbidden: not allowed (Use in general situations when rules, not just laws, are broken)
- •Unauthorized: done without permission (Use when focusing on lack of official approval)
- •Prohibited: officially not allowed (Use when rules or laws clearly ban something)
Unboxing
- •Prefix: "il-" means "not" or "without"
- •Root: "licit" comes from Latin "licitus," meaning "allowed" or "permitted"
- •Etymology: From Latin "illicitus," meaning "not permitted by law"
- •Historical development: Used in English since the 1600s to describe acts against law or rules
- •Modern usage: Commonly used to describe illegal or forbidden activities, often secret or hidden
Reflect & Connect
•How do you think the word "illicit" changes the feeling or seriousness compared to just saying "illegal"?
•Can something be illicit but not harmful? How would you explain that?
Fill in the blanks
1.The government tries to stop illicit ___ like drug trafficking and smuggling.
2.People keep illicit activities secret because they know they are ___.
3.Unlike legal businesses, illicit businesses operate without ___.
4.An illicit relationship is usually hidden because it is ___ by social rules.
5.The police arrested him for his involvement in illicit ___.
6.Sometimes, illicit behavior can cause ___ even if it is not violent.
7.Companies caught in illicit deals often face heavy ___ from the government.