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

严格说来，这不算违法。

《牛津词典》

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

ECONOMIST: Living on his wits

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