A contract for an illegal purpose is classified as what?

A contract for an illegal purpose is classified as void because it lacks legal effect from the outset. In legal terms, a void contract is one that is not legally enforceable and cannot be upheld in a court of law. The law does not recognize the validity of agreements formed for activities that are illegal, such as contracts involving criminal acts or actions that violate public policy.

The principle behind this is that the courts do not intervene to enforce contracts that require individuals to engage in unlawful conduct. Consequently, even if both parties consent to the terms of the contract, the illegal nature of the agreement means it cannot be validly recognized or enforced. This ensures that the legal system does not endorse or promote illegal activities through contractual agreements.