Illegal vs. Unlawful

[rabalac]

Are there any circumstances where one of these terms can be used but not the other? If there are, I dare you to write a sentence where only one of these words could be used.

[freezeframe]

Are there any circumstances where one of these terms can be used but not the other? If there are, I dare you to write a sentence where only one of these words could be used.

You dare us? LOL

"When I attempted to run this program, I got illegal operation message"

[birdeen's call]

There are other circumstances too. The word "unlawful" is/was used to refer to a child born to an unmarried couple. "Illigal" has never been used that way, at least to my knowledge. A love affair can also be called unlawful and legal at the same time.

[Tdol]

Heroin and cocaine are illegal drugs- I have never heard them described as unlawful drugs.

[rabalac]

You dare us? LOL

"When I attempted to run this program, I got illegal operation message"

Oh come on! An illegal operation has no legal ramification. It is purely a technical term within computing parlance. But nice try though. LOL.

[rabalac]

Heroin and cocaine are illegal drugs- I have never heard them described as unlawful drugs.

Point duly noted.

[5jj]

The word "unlawful" is/was used to refer to a child born to an unmarried couple. "Illegal" has never been used that way, at least to my knowledge. A love affair can also be called unlawful and legal at the same time.

Although married couples were lawfully wedded, I have not heard of an illegitimate child (i.e. one born to an unmarried couple) referred to as an unlawful child.

Equally, I have not heard of a love affair called unlawful and legal; It may be illicit, but I don't think it's unlawful unless it's illegal.

[freezeframe]

Oh come on! An illegal operation has no legal ramification. It is purely a technical term within computing parlance. But nice try though. LOL.

You did not give any parameters aside from the two words. If you are going to issue dares, you should word them more carefully.

[birdeen's call]

Example 1 unlawful = illegitimate

Example 2 unlawful = illicit (His love wasn't illegal. Laws don't forbid feelings.)

I have no patience to look for an example of an unlawful love affair that was not illegal, but I also don't think it's necessary. Example 2 tells us that "unlawful" can (or could) be used in the meaning of "illicit".

It may have been better if I'd written "can/could" as I did with "is/was".

[5jj]

Although married couples were lawfully wedded, I have not heard of an illegitimate child [...] referred to as an unlawful child.

Equally, I have not heard of a love affair called unlawful and legal; It may be illicit, but I don't think it's unlawful unless it's illegal.

Well, I wasn't lying. I hadn't read BC's 1839 and 1859 books.