illegal substances — drugs, chemicals, or materials that are prohibited by law and cannot be legally possessed, sold, or used
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: drugs, chemicals, or materials that are prohibited by law and cannot be legally possessed, sold, or used
Pronunciation (IPA): /ɪˈliːɡəl ˈsʌbstənsɪz/
Example Sentences
- The drug-sniffing dog went crazy at the music festival - apparently someone's 'oregano' wasn't for cooking.
- Athletes must be careful about supplements to avoid accidentally consuming illegal substances.
- The customs officer's job description should include 'professional party pooper' for all the illegal substances they confiscate.
illegal substances
NOUN[/ɪˈliːɡəl ˈsʌbstənsɪz/]
drugs, chemicals, or materials that are prohibited by law and cannot be legally possessed, sold, or used
Border agents discover illegal substances hidden inside hollow wooden statues at the airport.
Illegal substances hide in all circumstances, across all distances.
Got the picture? Now let's practice.
🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
Illegal derives from Latin in- (not) + legalis (lawful), meaning contrary to law. Substance comes from Latin substantia (essence, being), originally referring to that which stands beneath or underlies. Together, the phrase denotes matter or material that violates legal statutes.
Breakdown
il- (not, from Latin in-) + legal (lawful, from Latin legalis) + sub- (under) + stance (standing, from Latin stare). The morphology reflects both the negation of lawfulness and the physical 'standing' of material matter.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“The drug-sniffing dog went crazy at the music festival - apparently someone's 'oregano' wasn't for cooking.”
“Athletes must be careful about supplements to avoid accidentally consuming illegal substances.”
“The customs officer's job description should include 'professional party pooper' for all the illegal substances they confiscate.”
“The university implemented strict policies regarding illegal substances on campus.”
📚Related Words
Want to master 27,000+ words?
Sign up free for flashcards & quizzes.