# outlaw

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈaʊt.lɔː/ · frequency rank #14,801

## Definitions
1. A fugitive from the law.
2. A criminal who is excluded from normal legal rights; one who can be killed at will without legal penalty.
3. A person who operates outside established norms.
4. A wild or violent animal, such as a horse.
5. An in-law: a relative by marriage.
6. One who would be an in-law except that the marriage-like relationship is unofficial.
7. A prostitute who works alone, without a pimp.

## Etymology
From Middle English outlawe, outlagh, utlaȝe, from Old English ūtlaga (“outlaw”), borrowed from Old Norse útlagi (“outlaw, fugitive”), equivalent to out- + law. Cognate with Icelandic útlagi (“outlaw”).

## Easily confused with
- **outta** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/outlaw-vs-outta)
- **outlet** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/outlaw-vs-outlet)
- **outlay** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/outlaw-vs-outlay)
- **outflow** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/outflow-vs-outlaw)
- **outlast** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/outlast-vs-outlaw)

## Common misspellings (8)
`otulaw`, `oultaw`, `outalw`, `outlaww`, `outllaw`, `outlwa`, `outtlaw`, `uotlaw`

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