Spelling.School · How to spell

How to spell illicit

Illicit is spelled I-L-L-I-C-I-T.

What it means: Forbidden by law or accepted morality.

In a sentence: The pirate had an illicit treasure map that he kept secret from everyone. ▶

The part people get wrong

Watch for double l.

Not to be confused with: elicit, a different word.

Same family: illegally, illegal, legal, legality, illegality. If you can spell one, the shared part carries to the others.

Where it comes from: “Illicit” comes from Latin *illicitus*, meaning “not allowed” or “unlawful.” It is built from *in-* (not) + *licitus* (lawful), which is related to the same Latin root that gives us “legal” and “legitimate.”

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