Contraband refers to goods that are taken into or out of a country illegally.
The ship was found not to be carrying any contraband.
Most of the city markets were flooded with contraband goods.
Synonyms: smuggling, trafficking, black-marketing, moonshine [US] More Synonyms of contraband
More Synonyms of contraband
contraband in British English
(ˈkɒntrəˌbænd)
noun
1.
a.
goods that are prohibited by law from being exported or imported
b.
illegally imported or exported goods
2.
illegal traffic in such goods; smuggling
3. Also called: contraband of war international law
goods that a neutral country may not supply to a belligerent
4.
(during the American Civil War) a Black slave captured by the Union forces or one who escaped to the Union lines
adjective
5. (of goods)
a.
forbidden by law from being imported or exported
b.
illegally imported or exported
Derived forms
contrabandist (ˈcontraˌbandist)
noun
Word origin
C16: from Spanish contrabanda, from Italian contrabando (modern contrabbando), from Medieval Latin contrabannum, from contra- + bannum ban, of Germanic origin
contraband in American English
(ˈkɑntrəˌbænd)
noun
1.
unlawful or prohibited trade
2.
goods forbidden by law to be imported or exported; smuggled merchandise
3.
contraband of war
4. US
during the Civil War, a black slave who fled to, or was smuggled or found behind, the Union lines
adjective
5.
forbidden by law to be imported or exported
Word origin
Sp contrabanda, a smuggling < It contrabando < contra-, against + bando < ML bannum < Frank *ban, a command; akin to OE ban: see ban1
Examples of 'contraband' in a sentence
contraband
He strongly denied any links to the contraband goods.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
All bags will be scanned by X-ray machines for contraband goods.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
He said that the military was now shot through with corruption, with officers involved in illegal mining and the smuggling of contraband goods.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Hire cars are increasingly being used by criminal gangs to ferry contraband around the country and commit armed robberies, senior police officers have confirmed.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
A major British meat producer has been accused of shipping contraband lamb to a French company at the centre of the horse contamination scandal.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
(noun)
Synonyms
smuggling
trafficking
black-marketing
moonshine (US)
bootlegging
rum-running
(adjective)
Definition
(of goods) smuggled
Most of the city markets were flooded with contraband goods.
Synonyms
smuggled
illegal
It is illegal to interfere with emergency radio frequencies.
illicit
information about the use of illicit drugs
black-market
hot (informal)
He brought a hot computer from a man in pub.
banned
forbidden
Smoking was forbidden everywhere.
prohibited
Fishing is prohibited here.
unlawful
employees who believe their dismissal was unlawful