outlaw

[out-law]

noun

1. a lawless person or habitual criminal, especially one who is a fugitive from the law.

   Synonyms: brigand, bandit, desperado

2. a person, group, or thing excluded from the benefits and protection of the law.

3. a person under sentence of outlawry.

4. a person who refuses to be governed by the established rules or practices of any group; rebel; nonconformist.

   one of the outlaws of country music.

5. Chiefly Western U.S.

   1. a horse that cannot be broken; a mean, intractable horse.

   2. any rogue animal.

verb (used with object)

1. to make unlawful or illegal.

   The Eighteenth Amendment outlawed the manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating beverages in the U.S.

2. to deprive of the benefits and protection of the law.

   Members of guerrilla bands who refused to surrender were outlawed.

3. to prohibit.

   to outlaw smoking in a theater.

   Synonyms: forbid, ban, proscribe

4. to remove from legal jurisdiction; deprive of legal force.

adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of an outlaw.

outlaw

/ ˈaʊtˌlɔː /

noun

1. (formerly) a person excluded from the law and deprived of its protection

2. any fugitive from the law, esp a habitual transgressor

3. a wild or untamed beast

verb

1. to put (a person) outside the law and deprive of its protection

2. (in the US) to deprive (a contract) of legal force

3. to ban

Other Word Forms

• self-outlaw noun
• self-outlawed adjective
• unoutlawed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of outlaw¹

before 1150; Middle English outlawe, Old English ūtlaga < Old Norse ūtlagi one outside the protection of the law; out, law ¹

Example Sentences

Since last year's laws tweak, which outlawed 'escort runners' and made it easier for chasing players to contest kicks, there has been a higher premium on the ability to claim high balls.

Read more on BBC

Flynn’s not around, but Jack Patten is, playing the legendary outlaw in the new 10-part “Robin Hood” with a grave demeanor and a passel of Merry Men who seem to have PTSD.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The previous year, the court — then majority Democrat — had outlawed partisan gerrymandering in the swing state.

Read more on Salon

“America was one of the first places on Earth to outlaw slavery,” a cartoon version of Washington tells two time-traveling children in the PragerU video, so “I am proud and thankful.”

Read more on Salon

The president said Republicans need to “get smart” and outlaw all voting outside of Election Day.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• bandit 
• crook 
• desperado 
• fugitive 
• gangster 
• hoodlum 
• hooligan 
• marauder 
• mobster 
• outcast 
• pariah 
• robber