How do you pronounce illicit?

The recorded pronunciation is /ɪˈlɪsɪt/.

illicit

/ɪˈlɪsɪt/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: 3.43 in modern English

Syllables: il-lic-it
IPA: /ɪˈlɪsɪt/

Scrabble Score

Letters

Syllables

Unique Chars

Meaning

adj

Not approved by law, but not invalid.

adj

Breaking social norms.

adj

Unlawful.

noun

A banned or unlawful item.

Example Sentences

"The bigamous marriage, while illicit, was not invalid."
"Such migrants may violate our laws against illicit entry, but if that's all they do then they are trespassers, not criminals."
"I only can properly enjoy carol services if I am having an illicit affair with someone in the congregation."
"Ayşe Erkoç learned long ago that the secret of doing anything illicit in Istanbul is to do it in full public gaze in the clear light of day. No one ever questions the legitimacy of the blatant."
"A large number of studies, however, have reported that it is rare for the user of 'hard' drugs not to have initiated cannabis use prior to the other illicits."

Etymology

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

Origin

Source language: Latin

Word Breakdown

Root: illicitus

Inflected Forms

more illicit (comparative) most illicit (superlative) illicits (plural)

Derived Forms

illicitly illicitness

Frequently Paired Words

elicit

Synonyms

disallowed nonlicet prohibited banned forbidden impermissible illegal illicit interdicted nonallowed proscribed proscript

Homonyms