lawbreaking

English

Alternative forms

• law-breaking

Etymology

From law +‎ breaking.

Adjective

lawbreaking (no attested comparative, superlative most lawbreaking)

1. unlawful; illegal.

   We have a place for lawbreaking citizens like you.

   • 1994 April 19, “LETTERS TO THE EDITOR”, in San Francisco Chronicle, page A18:

     To make this penalty hang like a Sword of Damocles over every lawbreaking alien apprehended in this country

   • 2006 April 24, “Clergy stakes out key role in debate”, in San Bernardino (CA) Sun:

     Although church leaders argue they're trying to help the most vulnerable in society, some, including parishioners, argue they're helping the most lawbreaking.

Noun

lawbreaking (plural lawbreakings)

1. The commission of a criminal act, the violation or breaking of a law.

   His lawbreaking ended only when he was hanged for it.