ill-gotten

[ il-got-n ]

adjective

1. acquired by dishonest, improper, or evil means:

   ill-gotten gains.

ill-gotten

adjective

1. obtained dishonestly or illegally (esp in the phrase ill-gotten gains )

Word History and Origins

Origin of ill-gotten¹

First recorded in 1545–55

Example Sentences

Perhaps Kim Jong-un, worth a rumored—and ill-gotten—$5 billion, will dig into his own pockets to make good on a 30-year promise.

From The Daily Beast

Prince Charles also announced a plan to ‘follow the money’ in an effort to strip wildlife poachers of their ill-gotten gains.

From The Daily Beast

He was depicted as the “fence”—or the person taxed with selling all the ill-gotten goods for cold, hard cash.

From The Daily Beast

The complaint charges that members of the conspiracy used ill-gotten gains to purchase gold from the owners of the stores.

From The Daily Beast

Did portfolio manager A know the information was ill gotten?

From The Daily Beast

If I were a woman I would prefer to lie stretched out at the morgue than be the joint possessor of that man's ill-gotten wealth.

From Project Gutenberg

It did not enter his honest head to envy the dead man his fresh ill-gotten fame.

From Project Gutenberg

To-night you have assisted at our farewell appearance as gilded dispensers of ill-gotten wealth.

From Project Gutenberg

Ye take part of ye'er ill-gotten gains an' leave it with me f'r dhrink.

From Project Gutenberg

The unfeeling relative inherited the nephew's wealth, but, like all ill-gotten gear, it did not bring happiness.

From Project Gutenberg