It wasn't illegal in the strict sense (of the word).

严格说来，这不算违法。

《牛津词典》

A bat is not a bird in the strict sense.

从严格意义上讲，蝙蝠不是鸟。

youdao

Of course there is something more in the strict sense of marriage.

当然婚姻还有更多的积极因素。

youdao

What is evident is that the relations between ministers and mandarins are at a crisis, in the strict medical sense of that word: that is to say, they are at a point at which they will either get better, or drastically worse.

ECONOMIST: Tony Blair��s mighty servant

But in everything except the strict accounting sense of the word Mr Ashcroft has become a liability.

ECONOMIST: Living on his wits

Consequently, the study of corruption ought to include acts that may be legal in a strict narrow sense but where the rules of the game have been bent.

FORBES: Corruption And The Global Financial Crisis