contraband

[kon-truh-band]

noun

1. anything prohibited by law from being imported or exported.

2. goods imported or exported illegally.

3. illegal or prohibited trade; smuggling.

4. International Law.,  contraband of war.

5. (during the American Civil War) an enslaved Black person who escaped to or was brought within the Union lines.

adjective

1. prohibited from export or import.

contraband

/ ˈkɒntrəˌbænd /

noun

1. 1. goods that are prohibited by law from being exported or imported

   2. illegally imported or exported goods

2. illegal traffic in such goods; smuggling

3. Also called: contraband of war. international law goods that a neutral country may not supply to a belligerent

4. (during the American Civil War) a Black slave captured by the Union forces or one who escaped to the Union lines

adjective

1. 1. forbidden by law from being imported or exported

   2. illegally imported or exported

contraband

1. Goods illegally transported across borders to avoid the payment of taxes.

Other Word Forms

• noncontraband noun
• contrabandist noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of contraband¹

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”; contra ¹ ( def. ), ban ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of contraband¹

C16: from Spanish contrabanda, from Italian contrabando (modern contrabbando ), from Medieval Latin contrabannum, from _contra- + bannum ban, of Germanic origin

Example Sentences

Afterwards, Gandhi presided over waves of civil disobedience protests, encouraging supporters of the Indian National Congress to manufacture contraband salt, boycott foreign goods, and face down phalanxes of lathi-wielding policemen.

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And was it truly possible that the Incorrigibles themselves might be, in a sense, contraband?

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State authorities say inmates may use the strong-smelling condiment to disguise contraband substances or brew alcohol behind bars.

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The government is responsible for fishing licenses -- but a lack of controls allows for money laundering, fishermen and couriers to be extorted by gangs, with contraband often added to their outbound shipments, the experts said.

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The complaint alleges that Quin brought E contraband gifts, including a phone, and, around Christmas, a water bottle full of alcohol.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• bootleg 
• illicit 
• prohibited 
• smuggled www.thesaurus.com
• unauthorized