YOUR VOCABULARY, ONE WORD AT A TIME

contraband

Noun

IPA /ˈkɒntrəbænd/

Understand it. Say it. Use it.

UNDERSTAND THE WORD

Meaning in plain English

Goods carried into or out of a country illegally.

SAY IT ALOUD

Pronunciation

contraband/ˈkɒntrəbænd/

PICTURE THE IDEA

See the meaning

Follow the idea

Goods are carried across a border illegally
Officials stop and seize the goods

Contraband is illegally transported goods, not ordinary permitted luggage.

SEE IT IN EVERYDAY ENGLISH

Examples in context

Read the examples aloud. Notice how the word fits the sentence, then think of a situation of your own.

In the detective story, officers find contraband hidden in a suitcase.
The class examined a newspaper report about seized contraband.

MAKE IT STICK

Quick word quiz

Try the question without looking back, then write a sentence of your own. You can retry as often as you like.

Can you recall the word?

Complete the example using the word from this lesson.

In the detective story, officers find ________ hidden in a suitcase.

Show the answer

contraband — Goods carried into or out of a country illegally.

Try your own sentence (optional)

Make it yours

Write one sentence using “contraband” about your own life.

Your sentence (optional)

Check your sentence

Does your sentence match this meaning?

Goods carried into or out of a country illegally.

Compare: In the detective story, officers find contraband hidden in a suitcase.

Check the spelling and how the word fits the sentence. Your example can be different.

Self-review only. Your sentence is not automatically marked, saved or submitted.

This quiz is for practice. To save lesson completion on this device, complete the checks in the app.

Word origin

From Spanish contrabanda, ultimately from Italian elements meaning against and ban.

Did you know?

Seize contraband describes authorities taking possession of illegally traded goods.

Explore related words

Open a word’s lesson when available, or explore entries that use the related term.

Make the word your own

Say the word aloud and read an example sentence.
Write a new sentence about something familiar to you.
Cover the meaning and try explaining the word in your own words.

Continue with the app’s practice check, then try a sentence of your own to mark this word complete.

Practise this word in the app

Completion and saved words stay in this browser on this device.