The term unlawful is a general description for conduct that is illegal or not authorized by law.
The term is sometimes used in a more narrow sense; for instance, unlawful may refer only to conduct that is criminally punishable. At other times, unlawful may refer only to actions that violate statutory law (as opposed to actions that violate uncodified common law doctrines such as negligence).
See: unlawful assembly
[Last updated in June of 2024 by the Wex Definitions Team]