ENGLISH
REFERENCE

smugglers

n. plural-only
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈsməɡəɫɝz// UK //smˈʌɡləz// smug·glers

n. people who move goods or other people into or out of a country secretly and illegally. They do this to avoid paying taxes or to bring in things that are banned.

n. individuals engaged in the clandestine and illegal transport of goods or persons across international borders, typically to evade customs duties or legal prohibitions.


SIMPLE

The smugglers tried to cross the border at night.

CONTEXTUAL

Customs officers caught the smugglers attempting to bring rare animal species into the country inside hidden compartments.

COMPLEX

Historically, coastal communities often relied on smugglers to provide affordable goods, viewing the activity as a necessary defiance of excessive government taxation rather than a serious criminal enterprise.

Synonyms
Usage

The plural form of 'smuggler'; refers to the group or the profession in general.

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