English Lexicon

Unlawfulness

/ʌnˈlɔː.fəl.nəs/
nounCEFR C1 (Advanced)Top #15000 frequency
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Comprehensive Definitions & Senses

2 senses
As noun
  1. 1

    The quality or state of being contrary to or in violation of the law.

    "The unlawful actions of the corporation led to significant legal repercussions."
  2. 2

    An act or condition that is not lawful.

    "The investigation uncovered numerous instances of unlawfulness within the organization."

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Antonyms & Contrasting Words (1)

Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology

The term 'unlawfulness' is derived from the prefix 'un-' meaning 'not' and the root 'lawful', which comes from the Old English 'laga', meaning 'law'. The evolution of the term reflects a historical context where legal definitions and societal norms have shifted over centuries, particularly in the development of common law.

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