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Smuggling vs Contraband - What's the difference?

smuggling | contraband |

As verbs the difference between smuggling and contraband

is that smuggling is present participle of lang=en while contraband is to import illegally; to smuggle.

As nouns the difference between smuggling and contraband

is that smuggling is an act of smuggling while contraband is any goods which are illicit or illegal to possess.

As an adjective contraband is

prohibited from being traded.

smuggling

English

Verb

(head)
  • Noun

    (en noun)
  • An act of smuggling.
  • contraband

    English

    Noun

    (wikipedia contraband) (en-noun)
  • (uncountable) any goods which are illicit or illegal to possess
  • (uncountable) goods which are prohibited from being traded, smuggled goods
  • (countable, US, historical) A black slave during the American Civil War who had escaped to, or been captured by, Union forces.
  • * 1988 , James McPherson, Battle Cry of Freedom , Oxford 2003, p. 497:
  • While some Yanks treated contrabands with a degree of equity or benevolence, the more typical response was indifference, contempt, or cruelty.

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • prohibited from being traded
  • * 1940' – ' The Code of Federal Regulations of the United States of America: Having ... – Division of the Federal Register, the National Archives – Page 2191
  • "[...] when the seizure is made in connection with a violation involving a contraband article covered by section 1 (b) (1) of the said Act; [...]"
  • * 1953' – United States, United States. President, United States. Congress – ' United States Code Congressional and Administrative News – Page 2039
  • "The exclusion of mandatory payment of moieties for seizures of contraband controlled substances is accomplished through Section 17 of the bill, [...]"
  • * 1899' – Albert William Chaster – ' The Powers, Duties and Liabilities of Executive Officers as Between These ... – Stevens and Haynes – Page 55
  • "4. Contraband goods may be seized if found in a river before they are landed or offered for sale."

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (obsolete) To import illegally; to smuggle.
  • (Johnson)
  • (obsolete) To declare prohibited; to forbid.
  • * Hudibras
  • The law severely contrabands / Our taking business off men's hands.