contraband

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "contraband" is correct and usable in written English.
It means goods that are prohibited by law to be imported, exported, or possessed. You can use it when you need to refer to prohibited items, or when referring to smuggling of such items. Example sentence: The police found contraband cigarettes hidden in the trunk of the car.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The almost impossible task of calculating the money generated by the oldest profession is being undertaken to conform with a European edict demanding that member states declare the percentage of GDP derived from illegal activities such as the sex trade, drug and people trafficking and contraband.

The Guardian

Jacqui Small, £20 GG Buying Mast Brothers chocolate in the UK has always felt like getting your hands on precious contraband.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The sources said he was at the early, information-gathering stages of an investigation into a suspected smuggling operation, and noted that elements of the FSB – the Federal Security Bureau, successor to the Soviet KGB – were heavily involved in trafficking of contraband products across the European Union's easternmost border with Russia.

The Guardian

The soul of the story, though, is provided by narrator Red (Morgan Freeman) – the jail's contraband smuggler, who befriends Dufresne, unwittingly helps him break free and eventually walks out of Shawshank by lawful means.

The Guardian

Guns that are considered assault weapons and large-capacity ammunition magazines that have not been registered with Connecticut authorities will be considered illegal contraband.

The Guardian

Galicians have traditionally supplemented their staple fishing industry with contraband; nearly half the cocaine used in Europe is thought to cross its smuggler-friendly coastline.If Mr Schneider is correct, the shadow economy in wealthy countries has grown three times as fast as the official one since the 1960s.

The Economist

After Merah's killing spree, Mr Hussey heads to Barbès, in northern Paris, where he finds "packs of Arab lads flogging trabendo Algerian slang for contraband goods, mainly cigarettes but also wristwatches, dope and cheap alcohol".

The Economist

And in the many places where contraband trade flourishes they have become partners in crime.

The Economist

But that is when the "silent campaign" begins, a furious scramble to beg and bribe every last vote in the constituency.In a hotel lobby in Vijayawada in the coastal part of Andhra Pradesh, where two regional parties are battling it out, party workers mill about, ready to jump into four-wheel-drives and start dispersing cash and contraband in all directions.

The Economist

Sporadic riots across the country in recent weeks have shown how unrest is triggered by local gripes from tensions with customs officials in a village where contraband is a mainstay to a protest against a rise in vehicle tax.

The Economist

Massive price differentials with neighbouring Colombia have fuelled the contraband trade, to which the authorities have responded by closing the border at night.Although the president has often signalled his willingness to adopt corrective measures, he has been unable to achieve consensus among the different factions within the government.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about "contraband", be specific about the type of goods to provide clarity and context. For instance, specify "contraband cigarettes" rather than just "contraband".

Common error

Avoid using "contraband" loosely to refer to anything undesirable. "Contraband" specifically denotes items that are illegal to possess or trade, not merely unwanted or disliked items.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "contraband" is as a noun, referring to goods that are illegal to possess or trade. It can also function as an adjective, describing something related to such illegal goods. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "contraband" accurately describes items that are illegal to possess, import, or export. Ludwig AI validates its correct usage. With a very common frequency, as shown by Ludwig, the word appears most often in news and media, though it is also relevant in formal and business contexts. Alternative phrases include "illegal goods" and "smuggled goods", which emphasize different aspects of the concept. When writing, it is important to be specific about the type of "contraband" to avoid ambiguity and to recognize that "contraband" refers specifically to illegal items, not merely undesirable ones.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

illegal goods

Focuses specifically on the illegality of the items.

smuggled goods

Highlights the act of smuggling as the means of acquiring or transporting the items.

prohibited items

Emphasizes the prohibition or restriction placed on the items.

illicit merchandise

Uses more formal language to describe the illegal nature of the goods.

bootleg products

Specifically refers to items that are illegally produced or distributed.

black market goods

Indicates that the items are traded on the black market, an illegal trading system.

unlawful commodities

Emphasizes the legal violation associated with the items.

forbidden articles

Highlights the act of being forbidden or banned.

outlawed possessions

Refers to items that are legally prohibited to own.

unlicensed wares

Suggests that the items are being sold or traded without the necessary licenses or permits.

FAQs

How to use "contraband" in a sentence?

You can use "contraband" to describe goods that are illegal to import, export, or possess. For example, "The authorities seized a large shipment of "contraband drugs" at the border."

What can I say instead of "contraband"?

You can use alternatives like "illegal goods", "smuggled goods", or "prohibited items" depending on the specific context.

Which is correct, "contraband" or "smuggled"?

"Contraband" refers to the goods themselves being illegal, while "smuggled" describes the act of illegally importing or exporting something. You can say "contraband items" or "smuggled goods", but the emphasis changes slightly.

What's the difference between "contraband" and "bootleg"?

"Contraband" generally refers to any goods that are illegal to possess or trade. "Bootleg" specifically describes items, often alcohol or recordings, that are illegally produced or distributed. So, "bootleg products" can be a type of contraband.