die Rechtswidrigkeit
Translation
illegality, unlawfulness
Examples
Das Gericht prüft die Rechtswidrigkeit der Handlung.
The court is examining the illegality of the act.
Die Rechtswidrigkeit des Bescheids wurde festgestellt.
The unlawfulness of the decision was established.
Grammar Patterns
the illegality ((of sth.)) Das Gericht stellte die Rechtswidrigkeit der Kündigung fest.
Similar Words
Synonyms: Illegalität, Ungesetzlichkeit; Antonym: Rechtmäßigkeit (lawfulness)
Etymology
From the adjective 'rechtswidrig' (unlawful), which is 'Recht' (law) + 'widrig' (contrary to) + '-keit' (a suffix indicating a state or quality). It means 'the state of being contrary to law'.
Memory Tips
The component 'widrig' comes from 'wider', meaning 'against'. So, this is the quality of being 'against the law' (wider das Recht).