not conforming to legality, moral law, or social convention
"an unconventional marriage"
"improper banking practices"
contrary to or prohibited by or defiant of law
"unlawful measures"
"unlawful money"
"unlawful hunters"
contrary to or forbidden by law
"an illegitimate seizure of power"
"illicit trade"
"an outlaw strike"
"unlawful measures"
Prohibited; not permitted by law (either civil or criminal law; see illegal).
"The unlawful entry into the building resulted in an immediate arrest."
In plain English: Unlawful means something that breaks the law and is not allowed by rules.
"The police arrested him for unlawful entry into the building after hours."
Usage: Unlawful describes any act that violates the rules of either civil or criminal law. While often used interchangeably with illegal, it specifically emphasizes a breach of legal statutes rather than just moral wrongs.
From Middle English unlawful; equivalent to un- + lawful.