contraband
noun
con·tra·band
| \ ˈkän-trə-ˌband
\
\
Definition of contraband
1
: illegal or prohibited traffic in goods : smuggling
… persons the most bound in duty to prevent contraband …— Edmund Burke
2
: goods or merchandise whose importation, exportation, or possession is forbidden
Border police searched the car for drugs and other contraband.
also
: smuggled goods
3
: a slave who during the American Civil War escaped to or was brought within the Union lines
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Examples of contraband in a Sentence
The border police searched the car for drugs and other contraband.
Recent Examples on the Web
Not just with bonfires, but companionship, rites of passage, sloppy first kisses, maybe a contraband brewski or two. — Los Angeles Times, "‘Burning Man in the South Bay’: A crazy beach party aglow with bonfires and tradition," 29 Aug. 2019 Passengers often forget about contraband items like pocket knives or even firearms stored in luggage that will get confiscated. — Natalie B. Compton, chicagotribune.com, "These are the airports with the best and worst TSA wait times," 28 Aug. 2019 But contraband has always been here in one form or another. — Maria Verza, USA TODAY, "Mexico’s forgotten border town mixes sun, sand, crime and drug trafficking," 27 Aug. 2019 But contraband has always been here in one form or another. — Washington Post, "Mexico’s Playa Bagdad mixes sun, sand and drug trafficking," 27 Aug. 2019 Perry is being held at Metro Corrections on a wanton endangerment charge and a contraband promotion charge. — Sarah Ladd, The Courier-Journal, "Man smuggled drugs to Louisville inmate underneath a stamp, police say," 26 Aug. 2019 All narcotics and contraband was seized during the arrests. — Michelle Iracheta, Houston Chronicle, "Five arrested in northwest Houston narcotics bust: Methamphetamine, xanax seized," 20 Aug. 2019 Jail officials called the items contraband in a disciplinary report. — Skyler Swisher, sun-sentinel.com, "Jeffrey Epstein’s unusual lockup detailed in records, from jailhouse panties to contraband facial exercise manual," 19 Aug. 2019 Inmates say they are forced to pay their debts with money, food, tasks (such as carrying contraband for the gangs) or Green Dots (an online currency used by inmates). — Jerry Mitchell, ProPublica, "Inside The Prison Where Inmates Set Each Other On Fire and Gangs Have More Power Than Guards," 19 Aug. 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'contraband.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for contraband
contraband
noun
English Language Learners Definition of contraband
: things that are brought into or out of a country illegally
See the full definition for contraband in the English Language Learners Dictionary
contraband
noun
con·tra·band
| \ ˈkän-trə-ˌband
\
\
Kids Definition of contraband
: goods forbidden by law to be owned or to be brought into or out of a country
contraband
noun
con·tra·band
| \ ˈkän-trə-ˌband
\
\
Legal Definition of contraband
: property that is unlawfully produced, possessed, or transported
—
contraband per se
: property that is in and of itself unlawful to possess, produce, or transport
—
derivative contraband
: property that is unlawful because it is used in committing an unlawful act
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