contraband

C1 Topic:General Vocabulary

US /ˈkɑntrəbænd/ UK /ˈkɒntrəbænd/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

noun
goods that are imported or exported illegally

The customs officers seized a large quantity of contraband.
2

noun
prohibited or forbidden items, especially in trade

The ship was found to be carrying contraband.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · goods that are imported or... smugglingtraffickingblack marketbootleggingillicit trade

2 noun · prohibited or forbidden... illegal goodsbanned substancesforbidden itemsprohibited materials

Opposites

legal goodslicit trade

Simplified etymology

Contraband entered English in the late 16th century from Spanish contrabanda, “smuggling,” adopted from Italian contrabando, “unlawful dealing.” The Italian term was formed from contra-, “against,” and bando, “proclamation” or “ban.”

Etymology

From Medieval Latin contrabannum ("a proclamation against"), from contra- ("against") and bannum ("proclamation; ban"); via Old French contrabande ("illegal trade") into Middle English contraband ("goods prohibited by law").

Topics

General Vocabulary

External links

# contraband

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C1
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈkɑntrəbænd/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈkɒntrəbænd/

## Meanings
1. goods that are imported or exported illegally
2. prohibited or forbidden items, especially in trade

## Examples
- The customs officers seized a large quantity of contraband.
- The ship was found to be carrying contraband.

## Synonyms
- smuggling
- trafficking
- black market
- bootlegging
- illicit trade
- illegal goods
- banned substances
- forbidden items
- prohibited materials

## Antonyms
- legal goods
- licit trade

## Roots and Affixes
- Affix: contra- - against

## Etymology
From Medieval Latin contrabannum ("a proclamation against"), from contra- ("against") and bannum ("proclamation; ban"); via Old French contrabande ("illegal trade") into Middle English contraband ("goods prohibited by law").

## AI Etymology
Contraband comes from Medieval Latin contrabannum ("a proclamation against"), from contra- ("against") and bannum ("proclamation; ban"); via Old French contrabande ("illegal trade") into Middle English contraband ("goods prohibited by law"). In current use it is a noun meaning "goods that are imported or exported illegally". That sense is explained by the older material without requiring a speculative semantic step: the inherited or borrowed base supplies the field of meaning, while the English formation fixes its modern role. The history is mainly one of transmission into English, with the older form and sense carried through borrowing or adaptation. For dictionary purposes, the important point is the continuity between the older form, the route into English, and the present lexical sense.

## Topics
- General Vocabulary

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