Meanings
nounillegalism (countable and uncountable, plural illegalisms)
plural illegalisms
- countableuncountableIllegal activity, especially seen as systemic or as part of a general philosophy or ideology.
Even where illegalism was the norm, he stood out, his career littered with examples of extortion, bribery and intimidation.
2011, Thomas Penn, Winter King, Penguin, published 2012, page 2671 more example
Sprinzak argued that the rule of law has never been fully institutionalized in Israel and that illegalism is a basic characteristic of political culture.
1989, Brenda Danet, Pulling Strings, page 116
Origin
Cite this entry
APA
illegalism. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/illegalism
MLA
“illegalism.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/illegalism. Accessed November 2, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “illegalism,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/illegalism.
Source: illegalism on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.