illicitly
illicitly — adverb
1. in a way that breaks written laws or goes against what the majority of people in
in a way that breaks written laws or goes against what the majority of people in a society consider to be right or proper behaviour
Umi was arrested for selling cigarettes illicitly from the back of her shop.
collocation: selling + noun + illicitly for illegal trade
The company had been transferring funds illicitly to offshore accounts for several years.
formal register: transferring funds illicitly in financial contexts
Eva discovered that someone was using her password to access the school database illicitly.
The two groups met illicitly after dark to exchange information about the rebellion.
- illegally
more specific to written law; less common to describe social/moral disapproval
- unlawfully
more formal and strictly legal; rarely used for social disapproval
- clandestinely
emphasises secrecy over illegality; can describe things hidden but not necessarily wrong
用法筆記
Frequently used in news reports and legal contexts. Unlike 'illegally', this word can describe actions that break social rules rather than written laws — for example, meeting someone when it is socially taboo to do so.
常見錯誤
illicitly — adjective
1. describes actions, objects, or relationships that are forbidden by law or that m
describes actions, objects, or relationships that are forbidden by law or that most people in a society strongly disapprove of
The police raided the warehouse and found a large amount of illicit drugs.
collocation: illicit + nouns for prohibited goods
Hassan lost his job after his involvement in an illicit business deal was discovered.
The novel tells the story of an illicit love affair between two married neighbours.
用法筆記
Common with nouns describing trade, relationships, and behaviour. 'Illicit drugs' and 'illicit trade' are especially frequent in news reporting. Do not confuse with 'elicit' (to draw out a response), which sounds similar but has a completely different meaning.