impermissibly

Impermissibly is an adverb derived from the adjective impermissible, meaning not allowed or not permitted. It indicates that an action or behavior was done contrary to rules, laws, or accepted standards. The term is commonly used in legal, administrative, and moral contexts to describe conduct that violates established directives.

In legal documents, impermissibly may appear in clauses outlining prohibited actions, such as "The contractor shall not alter the project design impermissibly." It is also used in regulatory settings, for example: "Employees must not disclose confidential information impermissibly." In casual discourse, impermissibly can describe any breaching of etiquette or policy: "He spoke impermissibly at the ceremony."

The word originates from the Latin roots permis‑ (allowed) and non‑ (not), forming permisible (allowed). The prefix im‑ before permissible indicates negation, leading to impermissible. Impermissibly follows the standard pattern of adverb formation by adding‑ly to the adjective.

Related terms include impermissible, permit, and permissible. The adverb is typically paired with actions that are subject to authority or custom. Its usage is formal; in everyday speech, one might instead use "unlawfully," "illegally," or "illicitly" to convey similar meanings.