outlaw

1 of 2

noun

out·​law ˈau̇t-ˌlȯ 

1

: a person excluded from the benefit or protection of the law

2

a

: a lawless person or a fugitive from the law

b

: a person or organization under a ban or restriction

c

: one that is unconventional or rebellious

3

: an animal (such as a horse) that is wild and unmanageable

outlaw adjective

outlaw

2 of 2

verb

outlawed; outlawing; outlaws

transitive verb

1

a

: to deprive of the benefit and protection of law : declare to be an outlaw

b

: to make illegal

outlawed dueling

2

: to place under a ban or restriction

3

: to remove from legal jurisdiction or enforcement

outlawry

ˈau̇t-ˌlȯr-ē 

noun

Synonyms

Verb

• criminalize
• illegalize

Examples of outlaw in a Sentence

Noun

Billy the Kid was one of the most famous outlaws of America's early history.

Verb

That type of gun was outlawed last year.

The government passed a bill outlawing the hiring of children under the age of 12.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The pills don’t work in every scenario, many women who use them to circumvent restrictions fear being prosecuted, and a lawsuit brought by the attorneys general of three conservative states seeks to both outlaw mifepristone for minors and prevent it from being mailed. —Kristen V. Brown, The Atlantic, 3 Dec. 2024

Mainstream lesbian artists in the Nineties existed along a very narrow sonic spectrum, spanning from outlaw country to roots-rock, with little room in between. —Abigail Covington, Rolling Stone, 24 Nov. 2024

Verb

That’s thanks to the DC Circuit Court of Appeals, which upheld a law that would outlaw TikTok over fears it could be used for foreign surveillance from China. —Thomas Brewster, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2024

Although British law technically outlawed slavery in the empire’s colonies in the South Pacific, only a handful of Royal Navy ships patrolled the area. —Shoshi Parks, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English outlawe, from Old English ūtlaga, from Old Norse ūtlagi, from ūt out (akin to Old English ūt out) + lag-, lǫg law — more at out entry 1, law

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

outlaw

1 of 2 noun

out·​law ˈau̇t-ˌlȯ 

1

: a person who is not given the protection of the law

2

: a lawless person or one who is running away from the law

3

: an animal (as a horse) that is wild and hard to control

outlaw adjective

outlaw

2 of 2 verb

1

: to deprive of the protection of law

2

: to make illegal

dueling was outlawed

outlawry

ˈau̇t-ˌlȯ(ə)r-ē 

noun

Legal Definition

outlaw

1 of 2 noun

out·​law ˈau̇t-ˌlȯ 

1

: a person excluded from the benefit or protection of the law

a trespasser is not an outlaw

2

: a lawless person or a fugitive from the law

3

: a person or organization (as a nation) under a ban or restriction or considered to be in defiance of norms or laws

considered an outlaw for its support of terrorism

outlaw

2 of 2 transitive verb

: to make illegal

outlawry

ˈau̇t-ˌlȯr-ē 

noun

Etymology

Noun

Old English ūtlaga, from Old Norse ūtlagi, from ūt out + lag, lǫg law