contraband
noun
Edmund Burke
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Contraband first appeared in English in the early 1500s as a borrowing of Italian contrabbando. This Italian word can be traced to the Medieval Latin word contrabannum, a combination of contra- ("against") and bannum ("decree"). Bannum is Germanic in origin and is related to Old High German bannan ("to command"). Bannan is also related to Middle English bannen ("to summon or to curse"), the source of the English verb ban, which now means "to prohibit" but which once also meant "to curse."
Examples of contraband in a Sentence
Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 3 Sep. 2024
As for the house owned by Liu, Cannabis Control agents have referred the matter to the internal affairs division of the Oakland Police Department, but have made no arrests in connection with the contraband.
—Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 31 Aug. 2024
In addition to the contraband packages, the task force also confiscated 31 banker’s boxes and garbage bags filled with cannabis and 32 boxes and bags of unregulated cigarettes and other tobacco products.
—Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2024
Even though Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department dogs alerted handlers to the smell of drugs in the box, no contraband could be found once it was opened.
—Ryan Murphy, The Indianapolis Star, 14 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for contraband 
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Cite this Entry
“Contraband.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/contraband. Accessed 12 Sep. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
contraband
noun
from Italian contrabbando "smuggling," from Latin contrabannum, literally, "against the decree or command," from contra "against" and bannum, bannus "decree"; of Germanic origin
Legal Definition
contraband
noun
Italian contrabbando act of smuggling, from contra- against + bando edict, law
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