English Explanatory Dictionary

contraband

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. Any goods which are illicit or illegal to possess.
  2. Goods which are prohibited from being traded, smuggled goods.
  3. A black slave during the American Civil War who had escaped to, or been captured by, Union forces.
adj
  1. Prohibited from being traded.
verb
  1. To import illegally; to smuggle.
  2. To declare prohibited; to forbid.

Pronunciation

/ˈkɒn.tɹəˌbænd/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-contraband.wav /ˈkɑn.tɹəˌbænd/

Word forms

contraband contrabands more contraband most contraband contrabanding contrabanded

Etymology

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

Derived words

contrabander contrabandism contrabandist contraband of war noncontraband
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