unconstitutional
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unconstitutional
Something that violates the constitution, that is, the highest law of a state. This term is used mainly in legal and political contexts.
Das Gericht erklärte das neue Gesetz für verfassungswidrig.
The court declared the new law unconstitutional.
The word is built logically: it consists of 'Verfassung' (constitution/basic law), the linking element '-s-', and 'widrig' (against). So it literally means 'against the constitution'.
Eine Handlung, die der Verfassung widerspricht, ist verfassungswidrig.
An action that violates the constitution is unconstitutional.
A very common and important combination is 'etwas für verfassungswidrig erklären' (to declare something unconstitutional). This expression is typically used by a high court such as the constitutional court.
Das oberste Gericht hat das Gesetz für verfassungswidrig erklärt.
The supreme court declared the law unconstitutional.
This adjective belongs to the formal technical language of politics and law. It is rarely used in normal everyday life.
Die Opposition reichte Klage ein, weil sie den Beschluss für verfassungswidrig hielt.
The opposition filed a lawsuit because it considered the decision unconstitutional.
illegal
'illegal' and 'verfassungswidrig' both describe something that is not legally allowed. 'illegal' is the more general term: something violates a law. 'verfassungswidrig' is more specific and more narrowly defined: something violates the constitution, meaning the most important legal foundation of a state. That is why 'verfassungswidrig' is mainly used in politics, law, and the news. Learners may confuse the words because both have to do with legal violations. But not every illegal act is unconstitutional.
Das Gericht erklärte das neue Gesetz für verfassungswidrig.
The court declared the new law unconstitutional.
Das Parken auf dem Gehweg war in dieser Straße illegal.
Parking on the sidewalk was illegal on this street.