smuggled goods

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "smuggled goods" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to items that have been illegally transported, typically across borders, to avoid taxes or regulations. Example: "The authorities seized a large shipment of smuggled goods at the border."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

The East India employees smuggled goods to Europe and dealt in opium with China.

The New York Times

Reports said it also outlawed foreign currency holdings and punished private traders who smuggled goods from China.

The New York Times

Traders evade these duties by paying for smuggled goods with black-market dollars.To explain: importers who buy dollars through official channels must specify what they plan to import.

The Economist

Mr. Wainwright also pointed to the huge volume of containers passing through large ports, often making it difficult to detect smuggled goods.

The New York Times

Two women from Roboski carried framed photographs of their sons, killed by the Turkish military in 2011 while they smuggled goods from Iraq into Turkey.

The New Yorker

"The fight is on, but results are few," Mr Putin said, referring to smuggled goods at the market, according to news reports.

The New York Times

More recent years have brought smuggled goods from around the world and a torrent of refugees from Afghanistan who have swelled Quetta's population to an estimated two million.

The New York Times

They enlisted the help of Michael T. Bruinton, a senior prison guard, by offering him $500 each time he allowed smuggled goods to pass through, Ms. Milgram said.

The New York Times

The Chinese authorities accuse him of masterminding a network that smuggled goods worth as much as $10 billion, under the protection of corrupt government officials.

The New York Times

The outpost is populated by traders from around the world (but dominated by the agents of the East India Company) and surrounded by a flotilla of boats that ferry smuggled goods and serve as eating and pleasure houses.

The New York Times - Books

The quarter to the Louxor's north, stretching from the Barbès-Rochechouart Metro station towards Chateau Rouge, is a by-word for crime, prostitution, drug-peddling and stolen or smuggled goods.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about international trade or customs enforcement, use "smuggled goods" to clearly indicate items that have been illegally transported across borders to evade duties or restrictions.

Common error

While "smuggled goods" is a clear and direct term, avoid using it in casual conversation where simpler terms like "knock-offs" or "fakes" might be more appropriate, unless you specifically want to emphasize the illegal nature of the items.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "smuggled goods" is as a noun phrase acting as the object of a verb or the subject of a sentence. As evidenced by Ludwig, it denotes items illegally transported to evade laws.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

78%

Formal & Business

9%

Wiki

6%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Science

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "smuggled goods" is a noun phrase denoting items illegally transported, primarily to evade customs or regulations. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage and suitability in diverse contexts. The phrase is most frequently found in news and media but also appears in formal business, wiki, encyclopedias and science. While grammatically sound and widely accepted, avoid overuse in informal settings where simpler terms might suffice. Consider alternatives like "illicit merchandise" or "contraband items" for nuanced expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Contraband items

Emphasizes the prohibited status of the goods.

Illicit merchandise

Focuses on the unlawful nature of the goods themselves, rather than the act of smuggling.

Trafficked goods

Suggests the illegal movement of goods, often involving exploitation.

Black market commodities

Highlights the trade of the goods within an illegal market.

Unlawfully imported items

Specifically refers to goods brought into a country illegally.

Prohibited imports

Emphasizes the forbidden nature of the imported items.

Bootlegged products

Implies goods produced or distributed illegally, often in the context of alcohol or media.

Clandestine cargo

Highlights the secrecy and covert nature of the goods being transported.

Undeclared merchandise

Focuses on the failure to declare the goods to customs authorities.

Secretly imported goods

Highlights the concealed nature of the importation.

FAQs

What's the difference between "smuggled goods" and "counterfeit goods"?

"Smuggled goods" refers to items illegally transported across borders to avoid taxes or regulations, while "counterfeit goods" are fake or imitation products passed off as genuine.

What can I say instead of "smuggled goods"?

You can use alternatives like "illicit merchandise", "contraband items", or "unlawfully imported items" depending on the context.

Is it correct to use "smuggled goods" in both singular and plural forms?

The term "smuggled goods" is generally used in the plural form, as it typically refers to a collection or category of items. However, in some contexts, you might refer to a specific item as a "piece of smuggled goods", though this is less common.

How does smuggling relate to the black market?

Smuggling is a key activity within the black market, as it involves the illegal transportation of goods that are then sold or traded outside of legal channels. Smuggling often fuels the black market by providing a supply of "illicit merchandise".