Plainly
look up a word, understand it — no rabbit hole
illicit
nounih-LIS-it
meaning in plain English
A thing that is not allowed by law.
Picture a secret stash of fireworks called 'illicit'—something fun but not allowed by law.
for example
The police found an illicit hidden in the back of the truck.
Think of a secret object that the government says you can't have. That secret object is an illicit. It’s something you shouldn't have because it breaks the rules.