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Added 9 October 2026

illicit

/ɪˈlɪsɪt/ adjective

In Latin: illicitus Wiktionary

adjective Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about illicit at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Not approved by law, but not invalid.
The bigamous marriage, while illicit, was not invalid.
Breaking social norms.
Unlawful.

noun

A banned or unlawful item.

Origin

Borrowed from French illicite, from Latin illicitus, from in- (“not”) + licitus (“allowed, permitted”), from licet (“it is allowed”). By surface analysis, il- + licit.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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