अवैध (avaidh)
adjective
A formal adjective meaning 'illegal, unlawful' -- the negative prefix अ- (a) attached to वैध (vaidh, 'legal/valid'). One sense only, but common in news and official contexts.
Sense
1
:
illegal, unlawful
adjective
Synonyms: गैरकानूनी (gairkaanoonii), गैरक़ानूनी (gairqaanoonii, variant form), नाजायज़ (naajaayaz, colloquial)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: You will meet this word constantly in newspaper headlines and TV news tickers -- अवैध (avaidh) कब्ज़ा (kabzaa, 'illegal occupation/encroachment') and अवैध (avaidh) निर्माण (nirmaan, 'illegal construction') are staple phrases in Delhi-NCR coverage of land and building disputes, given how often such stories make the local news here. In everyday speech people often reach for the more casual गैरकानूनी (gairkaanoonii) or नाजायज़ (naajaayaz) instead, keeping अवैध (avaidh) for a slightly more official or written register.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes reach for गलत (galat, 'wrong') to mean 'illegal', but गलत (galat) covers mistakes and errors generally, while अवैध (avaidh) is specifically about breaking law or rule -- an अवैध (avaidh) निर्माण (nirmaan, 'construction') is one built without legal permission, not a badly built one. 2) In casual speech, नाजायज़ (naajaayaz) is often heard instead of अवैध (avaidh) for the same idea; अवैध (avaidh) itself stays on the more formal, written/news side.
Sample Sentences:
यह इमारत अवैध कब्ज़े की वजह से चर्चा में है।
This building is in the news because of illegal occupation.
(yah imaarat avaidh kabze kii vajah se charchaa men hai।)
नगर निगम ने इलाके में अवैध निर्माण के खिलाफ अभियान शुरू किया।
The municipal corporation launched a campaign against illegal construction in the area.
(nagar nigam ne ilaake men avaidh nirmaan ke khilaaph abhiyaan shuroo kiyaa।)
पुलिस को शहर में कई अवैध हथियार मिले।
The police found several illegal weapons in the city.
(pulis ko shahar men kaii avaidh hathiyaar mile।)
अगर यह निर्माण अवैध पाया गया, तो इसे तोड़ दिया जाएगा।
If this construction is found to be illegal, it will be demolished.
(agar yah nirmaan avaidh paayaa gayaa, to ise tod diyaa jaaegaa।)
अवैध शराब बेचने वालों पर सख्त कार्रवाई की जा रही है।
Strict action is being taken against those selling illegal liquor.
(avaidh sharaab bechne vaalon par sakht kaarrvaaii kii jaa rahii hai।)
सरकार ने घोषणा की है कि सभी अवैध कब्ज़े हटाए जाएंगे।
The government has announced that all illegal occupations will be removed.
(sarkaar ne ghoshnaa kii hai ki sabhii avaidh kabze hataae jaaenge।)
अवैध खनन के कारण नदी को बहुत नुकसान पहुँचा है।
The river has suffered great damage because of illegal mining.
(avaidh khanan ke kaaran nadii ko bahut nuksaan pahunchaa hai।)
काश यह ज़मीन अवैध ढंग से न बेची गई होती।
If only this land had not been sold illegally.
(kaash yah zamiin avaidh dhang se n bechii gaii hotii।)
अदालत ने इस समझौते को अवैध घोषित कर दिया।
The court declared this agreement illegal.
(adaalat ne is samjhaute ko avaidh ghoshit kar diyaa।)
यह कॉलोनी पूरी तरह अवैध है, फिर भी यहाँ हज़ारों लोग रहते हैं।
This colony is completely illegal, yet thousands of people live here.
(yah kolonii poorii tarah avaidh hai, phir bhii yahaan hazaaron log rahte hain।)
Morphology
Adjective (invariant)
invariant:
अवैध
(avaidh)