Contraband Meaning
/ˈkɒn.tɹəˌbænd/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
nounAny goods which are illicit or illegal to possess.
nounGoods which are prohibited from being traded, smuggled goods.
Sentence Examples
The customs agent searched Tom for contraband.
Contraband may be confiscated.
Examples in smuggling include suitcases with false bottoms for hiding contraband.
CEFR Practice Quiz
Customs officers discovered hidden ____ in the false bottom of the suitcase.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The customs agent searched Tom for ____.
Word Origin & History
From Spanish contrabanda (modern spelling contrabando), from Italian contrabando (modern spelling contrabbando), from contra (“against”) + bando (“ban”), and reinforced by French contrebande.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"While some Yanks treated contrabands with a degree of equity or benevolence, the more typical response was indifference, contempt, or cruelty."
— 1988, James McPherson, Battle Cry of Freedom, Oxford, published 2003, page 497:
"there are also searched for concealed Slaves, and goods contrabanded"
— 1615, George Sandys, “The Second Booke”, in The Relation of a Iourney Begun An: Dom: 1610. […], London: […] [Richard Field] for W. Barrett, →OCLC, page 87:
"The law severely contrabands / Our taking business off men's hands."
— 1662 (indicated as 1663), [Samuel Butler], “[The First Part of Hudibras]”, in Hudibras. The First and Second Parts. […], London: […] John Martyn and Henry Herringman, […], published 1678; republished in A[lfred] R[ayney] Waller, editor, Hudibras: Written in the Time of the Late Wars, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire: University Press, 1905, →OCLC:
Explore More B2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
Customs officers discovered hidden ____ in the false bottom of the suitcase.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The customs agent searched Tom for ____.