1. the quality or state of being contrary to or forbidden by law

Examples

• The court ruled on the unlawfulness of the search without a warrant.
• The protesters questioned the unlawfulness of the new regulations.
• His lawyer argued that the unlawfulness of the evidence should exclude it from trial.
• The committee investigated the unlawfulness of the company’s hiring practices.
• She was concerned about the potential unlawfulness of her actions.
• The judge emphasized the clear unlawfulness of the defendant’s behavior.