First Known Use: before 12th century
Dictionary
1outlaw
noun out·law \ˈau̇t-ˌlȯ\
: a person who has broken the law and who is hiding or running away to avoid punishment
Full Definition of OUTLAW
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 (as a horse) that is wild and unmanageable
— outlaw adjective
See outlaw defined for English-language learners
See outlaw defined for kids
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Origin of OUTLAW
Rhymes with OUTLAW
backsaw, band saw, bear claw, bedstraw, blue law, bucksaw, buzz saw, bylaw, case law, catclaw, cat's-paw, chain saw, Choctaw, coleslaw, Corn Law, crenshaw, cumshaw, cushaw, Danelaw, declaw, Esau, forepaw, fretsaw, glass jaw, grandma, grandpa, guffaw, hacksaw, handsaw, hawkshaw, hee-haw, hurrah, in-law, jackdaw, jackstraw, jigsaw, kickshaw, last straw, leash law, lockjaw, lynch law, macaw, Moose Jaw, Nassau, old-squaw, outdraw, pasha, pawpaw, pit saw, pooh-bah, poor law, rickshaw, ringtaw, ripsaw, scofflaw, scrimshaw, scroll saw, seesaw, shield law, southpaw, Skiddaw, tack claw, trishaw, tussah, undraw, Utah, Warsaw, whipsaw, wiredraw, withdraw
2outlaw
verb
: to make (something) illegal
Full Definition of OUTLAW
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
— out·law·ry \ˈau̇t-ˌlȯr-ē\ noun
See outlaw defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of OUTLAW
before 12th century
Related to OUTLAW
- Synonyms
- criminalize, illegalize
- Antonyms
- decriminalize, legalize
OUTLAWRY Defined for Kids
1outlaw
noun out·law \ˈau̇t-ˌlȯ\
Definition of OUTLAW for Kids
: a person who has broken the law and is hiding or fleeing to avoid punishment
Headscratcher for OUTLAW
“In” and “out” may be opposites, but “in-law” and outlaw are not. An in-law is someone you're related to by marriage. An outlaw is someone who has broken the law.
2outlaw
verb
out·lawedout·law·ing
Definition of OUTLAW for Kids
: to make illegal <Dueling was outlawed.>
Learn More About OUTLAW
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