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contraband

Pronunciation: /ˈkɒntrəband/
Translate contraband | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish
Definition of contraband

noun

[mass noun]
  • goods that have been imported or exported illegally:customs men had searched the carriages for contraband
  • trade in smuggled goods:the salt trade (and contraband in it) were very active in the town
  • (also contraband of war) goods forbidden to be supplied by neutrals to those engaged in war.

adjective

  • imported or exported illegally, either in defiance of a total ban or without payment of duty:contraband brandy
  • relating to traffic in illegal goods:the contraband market

Derivatives

contrabandist

noun

Origin:

late 16th century: from Spanish contrabanda, from Italian contrabando, from contra- 'against' + bando 'proclamation, ban'

contraband in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of contraband in the US English dictionary

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