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Illegal vs. Legal — What's the Difference?

Illegal vs. Legal — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Illegal and Legal

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Illegal

Prohibited by law.

Legal

Of, relating to, or concerned with law
Legal papers.

Illegal

Prohibited by official rules
An illegal pass in football.

Legal

Established or recognized by law
A legal right.

Illegal

Unacceptable to or not performable by a computer
An illegal operation.
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Legal

Authorized by law
The legal owner.

Illegal

A person who is not legally authorized to live and work in a country.

Legal

Established legally other than by statute, as by a judicial opinion
A legal authority.

Illegal

Contrary to or forbidden by law, especially criminal law.
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.

Legal

In conformity with or permitted by law
Legal business operations.

Illegal

Breaching certain enacted statutes of positive law; not lawful, not legal (cf. immoral, unethical)

Legal

Recognized or enforced by law rather than by equity.

Illegal

Forbidden by established rules.
Moving a pawn backward is an illegal move in chess.

Legal

In terms of or created by the law
A legal offense.

Illegal

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

Legal

Applicable to or characteristic of attorneys or their profession.

Illegal

Being or doing something illegally.
Illegal immigrant
Illegal logger
Illegal pilot

Legal

Acceptable or allowable under official rules
A legal forward pass.

Illegal

Being an illegal immigrant; residing in a country illegally.

Legal

A person who is legally authorized to live and work in a country.

Illegal

(obsolete) An illegal act or technique.

Legal

A person or department providing legal assistance.

Illegal

Contraband, esp. illegal substances such as drugs.

Legal

A legal notice, especially an advertisement.

Illegal

An illegal immigrant.

Legal

Relating to the law or to lawyers.
Legal profession

Illegal

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

Legal

Having its basis in the law.
Legal precedent

Illegal

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.

Legal

Being allowed or prescribed by law.
Legal motion

Illegal

Prohibited by law or by official or accepted rules;
An illegal chess move

Legal

Following the rules or syntax of a system, such as a game or a programming language.
If you have no legal move, but are not in check the game is a draw.

Legal

(informal) Above the age of consent or the legal drinking age.

Legal

(of paper or document layouts) Measuring 8½ in × 14 in (215.9 mm × 355.6 mm) (also legal-size).

Legal

The legal department of a company.
Legal wants this in writing.

Legal

Paper in sheets 8½ in × 14 in (215.9 mm × 355.6 mm).

Legal

(countable) A spy who is attached to, and ostensibly employed by, an embassy, military outpost, etc.

Legal

Somebody who immigrated lawfully.

Legal

Created by, permitted by, in conformity with, or relating to, law; as, a legal obligation; a legal standard or test; a legal procedure; a legal claim; a legal trade; anything is legal which the laws do not forbid.

Legal

According to the law of works, as distinguished from free grace; or resting on works for salvation.

Legal

Governed by the rules of law as distinguished from the rules of equity; as, legal estate; legal assets.

Legal

Established by or founded upon law or official or accepted rules

Legal

Of or relating to jurisprudence;
Legal loophole

Legal

Having legal efficacy or force;
A sound title to the property

Legal

Relating to or characteristic of the profession of law;
The legal profession

Legal

Allowed by official rules;
A legal pass receiver

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