What does the phrase "against the law" mean?

Asked by: Prof. Allan Thompson DVM  |  Last update: February 7, 2026
Score: 4.7/5 (68 votes)

"Against the law" means an action, activity, or thing is illegal, forbidden, or not permitted by established rules, statutes, or legal principles, making it unlawful, illicit, or criminal, and potentially punishable, like speeding or stealing. It signifies a direct violation of the legal code, whether federal, state, or local.

What does it mean when something is against the law?

Legal Definitions - contrary to law

Something is "contrary to law" when it is illegal, unlawful, or in direct conflict with established legal rules and statutes. This means the action, decision, or condition violates existing legislation or legal principles.

What is an example of against the law?

The officer backpedaled and warned us not to BBQ or set up tents on the sidewalk because that was against the law. The statewide tourism bureau, Visit Florida, has yet to speak out against the law. In the city, hunting moths gathered under streetlamps is against the law.

What is another word for "against the law"?

banned criminal illicit unconstitutional unlawful.

What do you call someone who goes against the law?

Definitions of violator. noun. someone who violates the law. synonyms: law offender, lawbreaker. criminal, crook, felon, malefactor, outlaw.

[adj] Illegal meaning (against the law) with 5 examples

15 related questions found

What's the word for going against the law?

illegal. Something illegal is against the law or breaks the rules. If you're reading this in jail, you've probably done something illegal, and if you're not in jail, there's plenty of time to obey the law. You can use the adjective illegal to describe breaking the rules, as when you head-butt someone in a game.

What's another word for overstepping?

Common synonyms for "overstep" include transgress, violate, encroach, trespass, infringe, exceed, overreach, and exceed, all suggesting going beyond proper limits, authority, or boundaries; while synonyms like surpass, transcend, and outdo imply surpassing or being better than something else, as in ability or quality. 

How do you say "out of whack" professionally?

To professionally say "out of whack," use words like malfunctioning, not functioning, out of order, unbalanced, disproportionate, or misaligned, depending on whether you mean a system, data, or something physical; for processes, try unsystematic, disorganized, or chaotic. 

What to say instead of noncompliant?

Synonyms for "not compliant" describe defiance and refusal to follow rules, with common ones being uncooperative, disobedient, defiant, rebellious, insubordinate, resistant, and unwilling, while more formal or intense words include recalcitrant, obstinate, refractory, truculent, and intractable. The best choice depends on the context, ranging from mildly unhelpful to outright resistant to authority. 

Who decides what is against the law?

The best-known power of the Supreme Court is judicial review, or the ability of the Court to declare a Legislative or Executive act in violation of the Constitution, is not found within the text of the Constitution itself. The Court established this doctrine in the case of Marbury v.

What is 5 against the law?

So there is a scale that is from 1-5 on how socially acceptable and normal behaviors and mannerisms are. 5 is the least socially normal or acceptable type.

What is the strongest word for "illegal"?

Synonyms of 'illegal' in American English

  • criminal.
  • felonious.
  • forbidden.
  • illicit.
  • outlawed.
  • prohibited.
  • unauthorized.
  • unlicensed.

What are 5 examples of sentences?

The verb of the sentence is in red.

  • I'm happy.
  • She exercises every morning.
  • His dog barks loudly.
  • My school starts at 8:00.
  • We always eat dinner together.
  • They take the bus to work.
  • He doesn't like vegetables.
  • I don't want anything to drink.

What do you call a person who doesn't obey the rules?

disobedient. Add to list. /ˌˈdɪsəˌbidiənt/ /dɪsəʊˈbidiɪnt/ Someone who's disobedient doesn't follow the rules.

What is a better word for violation?

A better word for "violation" depends on the context, with common synonyms like infringement, breach, infraction, transgression, or offense for breaking rules, or misconduct, wrongdoing, or fault for moral lapses, while encroachment, intrusion, or trespass work for invading space or privacy. 

What is a synonym for unfair action?

noun. an unjust act. synonyms: iniquity, injustice, shabbiness.

What is a professional word for refusing?

Some common synonyms of refuse are decline, reject, repudiate, and spurn.

What's a better word for downplay?

Recent Examples of Synonyms for downplay. minimize. dismiss. soft-pedal.

What do you call someone who does not comply?

noncompliant. To be noncompliant is to be defiant and resistant to authority. When someone is compliant, they go along with what others — especially people in authority — want them to do. When someone is noncompliant, they resist authority.

What's a professional way of saying "lazy"?

Lethargic. Lethargic is a close synonym to lazy. If you are lethargic, you have very little energy, and you feel unable or unwilling to do anything. It is also often used in a phrase alongside tired – such as “I was feeling tired and lethargic.”

How do you say "not good" in a professional way?

Synonyms for “not good” include:

  1. Bad.
  2. Poor.
  3. Deficient.
  4. Disappointing.
  5. Regrettable.
  6. Unacceptable.
  7. Unsuitable.

How do you say "no brainer" professionally?

What is another word for no brainer?

  1. An easy or obvious decision.
  2. An extremely easy task.
  3. An effortless task or opportunity, a cinch, a doddle, or a gift.
  4. A problem with an easy solution.

What is another word for someone who goes above and beyond?

Exceeding expectations:

Instead of using "Above and Beyond," job seekers can use synonyms like "Surpassed," "Outperformed," or "Exceeded" to highlight their ability to go beyond what was expected of them.

How do you professionally say "taking over"?

To professionally say "taking over," use words like assuming responsibility for, managing, leading, stepping into, or taking charge of, depending on the context (e.g., "I am assuming leadership of the team," "She's taking charge of the new project") to sound more specific and action-oriented than the general "took over". 

How do you professionally say time consuming?

Professional synonyms for "time-consuming" that sound positive or neutral include protracted, laborious, time-intensive, exhaustive, meticulous, demanding, or resource-intensive, emphasizing the thoroughness or effort rather than just slowness, while words like lengthy, protracted, prolonged, or drawn-out are good general substitutes.