Meaning & use
illicit activity
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Meanings
nouncountable or uncountablelaw
An action that is illegal or forbidden by law or rules.
Grammar: Can be countable (an illicit activity) or uncountable (engage in illicit activity).
Patterns
- engage in illicit activity
- be involved in illicit activity
- illicit activity such as ...
The police are investigating illicit activity in the port.
He was arrested for engaging in illicit activity.
The report lists several types of illicit activity, including smuggling.
nouncountable or uncountabledisapproving
Secret or morally disapproved behavior, especially of a sexual or dishonest kind.
Grammar: Often used in the plural: illicit activities.
Patterns
- illicit activities
- accused of illicit activity
The newspaper exposed his illicit activities.
She denied any illicit activity.
They met in secret to discuss their illicit activity.
Word forms
| plural | illicit activities |
|---|
Common combinations
- engage in illicit activity
- The gang engaged in illicit activity for years.
- be involved in illicit activity
- Several officials were involved in illicit activity.
- illicit activity such as smuggling
- Customs officers look for illicit activity such as smuggling.
- a crackdown on illicit activity
- The government announced a crackdown on illicit activity.
Synonyms and how they differ
- illegal activity
- Illegal activity is the more everyday term; illicit activity sounds more formal and can also suggest secret or morally wrong behavior.
- criminal activity
- Criminal activity specifically means activity that is a crime; illicit activity can also include things that are just against rules.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: illicit activity or elicit?
illicit activity vs elicit
Elicit is a verb meaning to draw out a response; illicit is an adjective meaning illegal. They sound similar but are unrelated.
Practice
The customs team was praised for stopping ______ activity at the border.
Choose one answer.
'Illicit' means illegal or forbidden, which fits 'activity at the border.' 'Elicit' is a verb, 'illiterate' means unable to read, and 'illegible' means unreadable writing.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “illicit activity”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.