Bezprawny

Bezprawny is a Polish adjective meaning unlawful or illegal, used to describe actions, measures, or actors that violate the law or have no legal basis. In legal texts, journalism, and political discourse, bezprawny denotes that something is outside the bounds of statutory rules or constitutional norms. The term emphasizes formal contravention of the law rather than mere moral disapproval.

The word is formed from bez- (without) and prawny (lawful), itself derived from prawo (law). The related noun bezprawie denotes unlawfulness or a state of lawlessness; it can describe a condition in which the normal legal order is disregarded. Historically and in contemporary usage, bezprawie appears in discussions of governance lacking legal legitimacy or in descriptions of extreme disorder.

Usage and examples: Common collocations include czyn bezprawny (unlawful act) and działanie bezprawne (unlawful action). The term is also employed in political or public discourse to criticize authorities or actions that exceed legal powers or violate due process. In everyday language, bezprawny can describe any conduct that breaches formal legal standards, not merely immoral behavior.

Synonyms and nuances: Bezprawny is often translated as “unlawful” or “illegal,” with a stronger emphasis on formal legality than nielegalny, which can have broader or milder connotations. It is related to phrases like sprzeczny z prawem (in conflict with the law) and to the noun bezprawie, which denotes unlawfulness or a state of lawlessness rather than a specific act.