# contraband

/ˈkɑntɹəˌbænd/ (US) · /kˌɒntɹəbˈænd/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. illegal goods

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

goods that are illegal to own or trade, especially things that have been smuggled into a country.

For teachers: goods that are prohibited by law from being imported or exported; smuggled items. Uncountable in its general sense.

- Customs officers at the airport searched the bags for contraband like illegal drugs.
- The coast guard intercepted a vessel carrying a significant amount of contraband destined for the black market.

Usage: Usually functions as an uncountable noun when referring to the category of goods.

### 2. prohibited items

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

items that are not allowed in a specific place, such as a prison or a school.

For teachers: items that are prohibited within the confines of a specific institution or environment. Often used in the context of correctional facilities.

- The guards found a mobile phone, which is considered contraband in the prison.
- The facility has strict policies regarding contraband to ensure the safety of both staff and inmates.

### 3. prohibited from trade

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal · Technical

describes something that is illegal to buy, sell, or move.

For teachers: relating to or being goods that are prohibited by law or treaty from being imported or exported.

- The police seized the contraband tobacco during a raid on the warehouse.
- The treaty specifically lists certain chemicals as contraband materials that cannot be traded between the two nations.

### 4. historical US context

noun · CEFR C2 · American English · Archaic

a term used during the American Civil War for enslaved people who escaped to the North.

For teachers: a term used during the American Civil War to describe an enslaved person who escaped to or was brought within Union lines. Countable in this specific historical sense.

- During the war, many people sought freedom and were known as contrabands.
- Historians study the lives of contrabands to understand the complex transition from slavery to freedom during the 1860s.

Teaching tip: This sense is specific to 19th-century American history and is not used in modern conversation.

## Examples

- The guards searched the truck for contraband.
- Customs officials seized a large shipment of contraband cigarettes hidden inside a furniture container.
- The prison administration implemented stricter screening protocols to prevent the flow of contraband, such as mobile phones and narcotics, into the facility.

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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.