adjective

illicit

ih-LIH-siht

adjective

Not permitted by law or social convention; forbidden.

"Police seized a large quantity of illicit drugs at the port."

"They were having an illicit affair that everyone at the office suspected."

How to Use Illicit

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishForbidden — either by law or by social rules — often carries a hint of secrecy.

Common mistake

Don't confuse with "elicit" (to draw out a response), which sounds similar but means something completely different.

Easily confused with

elicit → illegal →

Common pairings

illicit drugs illicit affair illicit trade

more illicit comparative, illicits plural, most illicit superlative

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Can you complete this real example?

Police seized a large quantity of _____ drugs at the port.

Borrowed from French illicite, from Latin illicitus — in- ("not") + licitus ("allowed").

elicit deficit solicit implicit explicit complicit