extralegal

adjective

ex·​tra·​le·​gal ˌek-strə-ˈlē-gəl How to pronounce extralegal (audio)
: not regulated or sanctioned by law
extralegally adverb

Examples of extralegal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web That, too, reduces the likelihood of extralegal mischief and street violence. The Editors, National Review, 5 Mar. 2024 Opponents of the Kremlin often meet terrible extralegal ends that go far beyond the limits of mere repression. Fred Weir, The Christian Science Monitor, 22 Feb. 2024 And yet the drug war, to use Duterte’s phrase for it—this kind of murderous, extralegal, ongoing assault—was popular. David Remnick, The New Yorker, 17 Oct. 2023 Rather, the Menendez affair is a parable of the inherent risk to the U.S. political system posed by alliances with authoritarians, who often try to manipulate it in the extralegal ways they are accustomed to using at home. David D. Kirkpatrick, The New Yorker, 15 Oct. 2023 Two years ago, the United States’ democratic system of government faced an unprecedented test when supporters of President Donald Trump sought to overturn his election defeat—some through extralegal schemes, others through a violent assault on the U.S. Capitol. Larry Diamond, Foreign Affairs, 6 Jan. 2023 Moncada acknowledges that some of these actions blurred the line between the legal and extralegal realms and between victims and predators. Eduardo Moncada, Foreign Affairs, 22 Feb. 2022 After faking her own death, then killing her beloved housekeeper as a decoy, Mona tries Beau in a kind of extralegal, existential court for, among other things, regifting her the same Bette Midler CD twice. Vulture, 13 June 2023 There’s a fire and an election call that, while not carrying the force of law, would determine the narrative advantage in a legal (or extralegal) showdown. James Poniewozik, New York Times, 15 May 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'extralegal.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1644, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of extralegal was in 1644

Dictionary Entries Near extralegal

Cite this Entry

“Extralegal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/extralegal. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

extralegal

adjective
ex·​tra·​le·​gal ˌek-strə-ˈlē-gəl How to pronounce extralegal (audio)
: not regulated or sanctioned by law
extralegally adverb

Legal Definition

extralegal

adjective
ex·​tra·​le·​gal ˌek-strə-ˈlē-gəl How to pronounce extralegal (audio)
: not regulated or sanctioned by law
extralegally adverb
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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