outlaw
Plural: outlaws
Noun
- someone who has committed a crime or has been legally convicted of a crime
- A fugitive from the law.
- A criminal who is excluded from normal legal rights; one who can be killed at will without legal penalty.
- A person who operates outside established norms.
- A wild or violent animal, such as a horse.
- An in-law: a relative by marriage.
- One who would be an in-law except that the marriage-like relationship is unofficial.
- A prostitute who works alone, without a pimp.
Verb
Verb Forms: outlawed, outlawing, outlaws
- To prohibit something by legal declaration; to ban.
- declare illegal; outlaw
- To declare illegal.
- To place a ban upon.
- To make or declare (a person) an outlaw.
- To remove from legal jurisdiction or enforcement.
- To deprive of legal force.
Adjective Satellite
- contrary to or forbidden by law
- "an outlaw strike"
- disobedient to or defiant of law
Examples
- The main character in the play was a bit of an outlaw who refused to shake hands or say thank you.
- The new house rule was to OUTLAW any challenges to dictionary definitions.
- to outlaw a debt or claim
Origin / Etymology
From Middle English outlawe, outlagh, utlaȝe, from Old English ūtlaga (“outlaw”), borrowed from Old Norse útlagi (“outlaw, fugitive”), equivalent to out- + law. Cognate with Icelandic útlagi (“outlaw”).
Synonyms
criminal, criminalise, criminalize, crook, felon, illegalise, illegalize, illegitimate, illicit, lawless, malefactor, outlawed, unlawful, absconder, anti-hero, bandit, deviant, fugitive, wolf's head
Antonyms
Scrabble Score: 9
outlaw: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Wordoutlaw: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
outlaw: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary