contraband
Americannoun
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anything prohibited by law from being imported or exported.
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goods imported or exported illegally.
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illegal or prohibited trade; smuggling.
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International Law. contraband of war.
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(during the American Civil War) an enslaved Black person who escaped to or was brought within the Union lines.
adjective
noun
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goods that are prohibited by law from being exported or imported
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illegally imported or exported goods
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illegal traffic in such goods; smuggling
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Also called: contraband of war. international law goods that a neutral country may not supply to a belligerent
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(during the American Civil War) a Black slave captured by the Union forces or one who escaped to the Union lines
adjective
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of contraband
First recorded in 1520–30; earlier contrabanda, from Spanish, from Italian contrabando (now contrabbando ), equivalent to contra “against” + Medieval Latin bandum, variant of bannum “edict”; see origin at contra 1 ( def. ), ban 2
Explanation
Contraband means "illicit goods" and usually refers to stuff that's imported or exported illegally, like weapons and certain exotic pets (like tigers). Contra means "against" (contradict, contrary) and bando means "ban," so contraband simply means "against a ban," or despite the rules. Place of origin: Italy. Somehow the word got imported by the English, but there aren't any laws against word-importation, so it would be a stretch to say that contraband is itself contraband.
Vocabulary lists containing contraband
Against All Odds: Contra and Counter
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Hamilton
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Excerpts from "To Kill a Mockingbird"
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
No contraband was found in the car, according to the report.
From Los Angeles Times • May 26, 2026
The US Navy later said it would also block ships suspected of carrying "contraband" including oil, weapons and nuclear material linked to Iran -- regardless of their location.
From Barron's • Apr. 22, 2026
After a visit home, I returned to campus with a stockpile, like a confectionery smuggler crossing state lines with sugary contraband stuffed between sweatshirts in my suitcase.
From Salon • Mar. 17, 2026
In the 1980s, hip-hop albums felt like contraband.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 2, 2026
For him to stop the soldier leading it, saying he has orders to search one baby carriage for contraband.
From "Girl in the Blue Coat" by Monica Hesse
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
