English Lexicon

Contraband

/ˈkɒn.trə.bænd/
nounCEFR B2 (Upper)Top #1500 frequency
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Comprehensive Definitions & Senses

2 senses
As noun
  1. 1

    Goods that are illegal to import or export.

    "The authorities seized a shipment of contraband at the border."
  2. 2

    Any item that is prohibited by law.

    "The police found contraband items in the suspect's vehicle."

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Antonyms & Contrasting Words (1)

Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology

The term 'contraband' originates from the late Middle English, derived from the Old French 'contrabande', which in turn comes from the Italian 'contrabbando', meaning 'to trade against'. The word has evolved to refer specifically to goods that are illegal to import or export.

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