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 calledcontraband 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. of goods
   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.

Derived Forms

• ˈcontraˌbandist, noun

Other Words From

• non·contra·band noun adjective

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

After an initial security screening flagged Saakwa-Mante’s luggage as “potential” contraband, U.S.

From Los Angeles Times

The trial also saw a number of unusual incidents, including the arrest of a Fulton County deputy for allegedly attempting to smuggle contraband to a defendant.

From BBC

He has just returned from his trip transporting contraband from the Ethiopian border.

From BBC

The indictment makes clear that Vitanza and other defendants were communicating with prisoners using contraband cellphones.

From Los Angeles Times

The conduct of the officials who searched her for contraband over the next several hours amounted to “state sanctioned torture,” according to a statement by famed attorney Gloria Allred, whose firm represented Cardenas.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• piracy
• smuggling
• trafficking