Illicite

Illicite is a French adjective meaning illegal or forbidden by law. It is used to describe acts, goods, or practices that contravene legal norms or regulations, and it is common in legal, administrative, and criminological contexts. The term can also carry a sense of conduct that is forbidden by moral or normative standards, not merely technical illegality.

Etymology and related forms: illicite derives from Latin illicitus, formed from in- “not” plus licitus “permitted,” from licere “to be permitted.” It entered Old French and survives today in modern French as illicite. The English cognate is illicit, and the Italian equivalent is illecito, rather than illicito.

Usage and contexts: In French, illicite appears in phrases such as activité illicite, commerce illicite, marché illicite, exemption illicite, and financement illicite, among others. The term is used across legal, regulatory, and academic writing to indicate that something lacks proper authorization or violates applicable rules. While closely related to illégal, illicite often emphasizes the absence of permission or contravention of norms, and it can carry a slightly broader or more morally charged nuance in everyday language.

See also: licite, the opposite meaning “permitted” or “lawful.” In multilingual contexts, illicite aligns with illicit in English and illecito in Italian, reflecting the same root concept of not being legally permissible.