ill-gotten

adjective

ill-got·​ten ˈil-ˈgä-tᵊn How to pronounce ill-gotten (audio)
: acquired by illicit or improper means
ill-gotten gains

Examples of ill-gotten in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The colonial appetite for firewood was decimating Pennsylvania’s forests—many of them ill-gotten from the Lenape, as Franklin knew but never acknowledged. — Dan Piepenbring, Harper's Magazine, 19 Feb. 2025 The goal was ill-gotten, as the officials missed Perfetti tripping Mason McTavish, a play that led directly to the scoring sequence. — Andrew Knoll, Oc Register, 28 Feb. 2026 Amy closes a big business deal — selling her company Koyohaus to Jordan Forster (Maria Bello), the owner of a big-box store chain — and Danny finds the resources, though ill-gotten, to reenergize his construction company. — Erin Qualey, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1552, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of ill-gotten was in 1552

Rhymes for ill-gotten

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Browse Nearby Words

ill-given
ill-gotten
illguide
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Cite this Entry

“Ill-gotten.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ill-gotten. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

ill-gotten

adjective
ill-got·​ten
-ˈgät-ᵊn
: to get by unlawful or improper means
ill-gotten wealth
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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