# contraband

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈkɒn.tɹəˌbænd/ · frequency rank #24,713

## Definitions
1. Any goods which are illicit or illegal to possess.
2. Goods which are prohibited from being traded, smuggled goods.
3. A black slave during the American Civil War who had escaped to, or been captured by, Union forces.

## Etymology
From Spanish contrabanda (modern spelling contrabando), from Italian contrabando (modern spelling contrabbando), from contra (“against”) + bando (“ban”), and reinforced by French contrebande.

## Common misspellings (16)
`ccontraband`, `cnotraband`, `conntraband`, `conrtaband`, `contarband`, `contraabnd`, `contrabadn`, `contrabandd`, `contrabannd`, `contrabband`, `contrabnad`, `contrbaand`, `contrraband`, `conttraband`, `cotnraband`, `ocntraband`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/contraband