extralegal

[ ek-struh-lee-guhl ]

adjective

1. being beyond the province or authority of law:

   There were only extralegal recourses for their grievances.

Other Words From

• extra·legal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of extralegal¹

First recorded in 1635–45; extra- + legal

Example Sentences

Furthermore, unofficial or extralegal migration continued throughout the program and many of those deported to Mexico during the operation later returned to the U.S.

From Salon

Covenants require extralegal agreements, or traditions of trust, even among their competing participants, as much as they require laws that are otherwise too easily undercut by their enforcers.

From Salon

We recognize these fictional figures as death dealers whose extralegal sentences are justified.

From Salon

But even though the other GOP candidates suck a lot, they probably aren't going to make a run at overthrowing democracy or using extralegal violence against perceived enemies.

From Salon

A statue of a USC founder whose connection to groups that carried out extralegal lynchings raised questions about the statue’s placement was removed last month for routine maintenance, university officials said.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• banned
• criminal
• illegitimate
• illicit
• irregular
• outlawed
• prohibited
• smuggled
• unauthorized
• unconstitutional
• unlawful
• unlicensed
• unwarranted
• wrongful