Definition of CONTRABAND

contraband

Plural: contrabands

Noun

  • goods whose importation or exportation or possession is prohibited by law
  • Any goods which are illicit or illegal to possess.
  • Goods which are prohibited from being traded, smuggled goods.
  • A black slave during the American Civil War who had escaped to, or been captured by, Union forces.

Adjective Satellite

  • distributed or sold illicitly

Adj

  • Prohibited from being traded.

Verb

  • To import illegally; to smuggle.
  • To declare prohibited; to forbid.

Origin / Etymology

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

Synonyms

black, black-market, bootleg, smuggled

Scrabble Score: 15

contraband: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
contraband: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
contraband: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 19

contraband: valid Words With Friends Word