Onwettig

Onwettig is a Dutch adjective meaning not in accordance with or contrary to the law; it is typically used to describe actions, processes, or statuses that violate statutory rules or public norms. Although often translated as "illegal" in English, onwettig can carry a broader sense that includes acts that are not permitted by law but may not always carry criminal penalties.

The word is formed from the negating prefix on- attached to wet, the Dutch noun for "law," and is etymologically related to wettelijk, which means "legal" or "lawful." In practice, onwettig is used in official, journalistic, and academic Dutch to label actions such as onwettige bouw, onwettige handel, or onwettige verblijfsstatus; equivalents include illegaal and onrechtmatig in some contexts. Note that rechtmatig and wettig emphasize legality and legitimacy, while onwettig signals an infringement of the law.

In legal contexts, determining whether something is onwettig depends on the applicable statute, regulation, or court decision. Some acts may be illegal per national law, while others may be deemed unlawful in specific situations or under certain interpretations. The term is commonly seen in policy discussions, law enforcement reports, and news coverage about non-compliant behavior.

See also: illegaal, onrechtmatig, wettelijk, rechtmatig, wetgeving.