contraband

Meaning

Noun

1. (uncountable, usually) Any goods which are illicit or illegal to possess.
2. (uncountable, usually) Goods which are prohibited from being traded, smuggled goods.
3. (US, countable, historical, usually) A black slave during the American Civil War who had escaped to, or been captured by, Union forces.

Adj

Prohibited from being traded.

Verb

1. (obsolete) To import illegally; to smuggle.
2. (obsolete) To declare prohibited; to forbid.

Synonyms

smuggling

smuggled goods

smuggled

black-market

black

bootleg

illegal goods

prohibited goods

illegal article

pirated goods

illegitimate

smuggle

taboo

unauthorized

unlawful

wrong

prohibition

strictly forbidden

racket

forbidden

forbidding

illegal

illicit

interdict

irregular

pirated

prohibited traffic

prohibitive

ban

Translations

contrebande

contrabbando

contrabando

contrabando

λαθρεμπόριο

contraban

Schmuggel

smokkelwaar

Konterbande

contrabande

Schmuggelware

تهريب

smokkelen

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈkɒn.tɹəˌbænd/

Etymology

From Spanish contrabanda (modern spelling contrabando), from Italian contrabando (modern spelling contrabbando), from contra (“against”) + bando (“ban”), and reinforced by French contrebande.