# bootleg

/ˈbutˌɫɛɡ/ (US) · /bˈuːtlɛɡ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/bootleg
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. unauthorized recording

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal

a recording of a concert or a song that was made and sold without the artist's permission.

For teachers: an unauthorized recording of a live performance or a broadcast, often distributed outside official commercial channels.

- He found a rare bootleg of the band's first concert in a small record shop.
- Collectors often prize a high-quality bootleg for its raw energy, even if the audio fidelity pales in comparison to a studio-engineered album.

### 2. illegal goods

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal

something that is made, moved, or sold against the law, especially alcohol.

For teachers: an illicitly produced, transported, or sold product, historically associated with the illegal trade of liquor.

- The police seized a large shipment of bootleg cigarettes at the border.
- During the Prohibition era, the distribution of bootleg whiskey became a highly organized and violent criminal enterprise.

### 3. part of a boot

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

the part of a boot that covers your ankle and lower leg.

For teachers: the portion of a boot that extends above the instep, covering the ankle and part of the leg.

- The leather on the bootleg was stiff and needed to be softened.
- The cobbler noted that the bootleg required additional reinforcement to prevent the tall silhouette from sagging over time.

### 4. illegal or fake

adjective · CEFR C1 · Informal

made or sold illegally; also used to describe a cheap or fake version of something.

For teachers: produced, distributed, or sold illicitly; frequently implies an inferior or counterfeit imitation.

- I accidentally bought a bootleg DVD that had terrible picture quality.
- The market was flooded with bootleg designer handbags that looked convincing from a distance but felt cheap upon closer inspection.

### 5. to produce or sell illegally

verb · CEFR C1 · Informal

to make, carry, or sell something against the law.

For teachers: to manufacture, transport, or sell goods—especially liquor or recordings—illegally.

- They were caught trying to bootleg software across the border.
- The group managed to bootleg hundreds of copies of the film before the official theatrical release date.

### 6. football play

noun · CEFR C2 · American English · Technical

a trick play where the player with the ball hides it and runs to one side.

For teachers: a play in which the quarterback fakes a handoff, conceals the ball against his hip, and rolls out to one side.

- The quarterback ran a perfect bootleg and scored a touchdown.
- The defense was completely fooled by the bootleg, leaving the entire right flank open for the quarterback to sprint toward the end zone.

## Examples

- He bought a rare bootleg of the band's first concert.
- Collectors often pay high prices for a high-quality bootleg of a legendary performance that was never officially released.
- While the studio initially tried to suppress the bootleg, they eventually realised that its popularity among the fanbase indicated a significant market for a remastered official release of the archival material.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.