unlawfully

/ʌnˈlɔːfəli/ (bre, ipa) · [ənlˈɔfəli] /ʌnˈlɔːfəli/ (ame, ipa)

unlawfully — adverb

1. done in a manner that goes against the law or lacks legal justification

1.副詞B2
釋義

done in a manner that goes against the law or lacks legal justification

例句

Omar was arrested after the police found him unlawfully carrying a weapon.

unlawfully + carrying a weapon (adverb modifying action)

The company unlawfully dismissed Sari for refusing to work overtime on weekends.

unlawfully dismissed (employment law context)

同義詞
  • illegally

    more common in everyday English; less formal than 'unlawfully'

  • wrongfully

    emphasises moral or ethical wrongness, not just legal status

  • criminally

    implies the action is actually a crime, not just a legal violation

反義詞
  • lawfully

    done in a way that follows the law

  • legally

    the most common everyday opposite

用法筆記

More formal than 'illegally'. Frequently used in legal documents, court reports, and official rulings about police or employer conduct.

常見錯誤

❌He did something illegally.
✅He acted unlawfully.
💡'illegally' is less formal and more common in everyday speech; 'unlawfully' is preferred in legal contexts.