extralegal
|ex-tra-leg-al|
/ˌɛkstrəˈliːɡəl/
outside the law
Etymology
'extralegal' originates from Latin: the prefix 'extra-' meaning 'outside' combined with 'legal' from Latin 'legalis' meaning 'pertaining to law'.
'extra-' (Latin) + 'legalis' (Latin) came into English as the compound 'extralegal' via modern formation in English (19th–20th century usage of Latin prefix with English adjective).
Initially the components meant 'outside' + 'pertaining to law'; the compound came to mean 'outside the law or legal regulation', a nuance that has largely remained though usage often contrasts 'extralegal' with 'illegal' to indicate lack of legal authorization rather than explicit prohibition.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
actions or practices that are outside legal authority or regulation (uses the adjective as a noun to refer collectively to such acts).
Throughout the crisis there were numerous extralegals carried out by local groups.
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Adjective 1
existing or occurring outside the scope or regulation of the law; not covered by legal rules or regulation.
The community formed extralegal committees to resolve disputes that the courts could not handle quickly.
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Adjective 2
not authorized or recognized by law or legal authority (often contrasted with 'illegal', which means prohibited by law).
The mayor took extralegal measures to maintain order during the emergency, actions that were not officially sanctioned.
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Last updated: 2025/10/31 03:15