How to Pronounce Illicit

To pronounce "illicit", say ILL-ic-it — 3 syllables, IPA /ɪˈlɪsɪt/. Tap play below to hear it in four English accents, or practice it syllable by syllable.

illicit

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Accent

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Speed

Syllable by syllable — tap each one

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3

Syllables

7

Letters

/ɪˈlɪsɪt/

IPA

💡 Tip for remembering “illicit”

"illicit" has 3 syllables: ill-ic-it. It rhymes with elicit and implicit, if that helps it stick.

What does illicit mean?

noun

  1. A banned or unlawful item.

adjective

  1. Not approved by law, but not invalid.
  2. Breaking social norms.

Synonyms

criminalillegalillegitimateprohibitedunlawful

Hear “illicit” in real sentences

Real example sentences from Tatoeba (CC-BY) — tap to hear each one, or see it used on YouGlish.

Words that rhyme with illicit

Practicing rhymes trains the same ending sounds.

elicitimplicitsolicitexplicitcomplicitbissetbissettblissettexplicitegrissett

Related words

unlawfulillegitimateillegaloutlawedoutlawadulterousextramaritalextracurricular

Frequently asked questions

How many syllables are in "illicit"?▾

"Illicit" has 3 syllables: ill · ic · it.

What is the IPA transcription of "illicit"?▾

The IPA transcription of "illicit" is /ɪˈlɪsɪt/.

What does "illicit" mean?▾

Illicit: A banned or unlawful item.

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