As a noun, it means goods that are illegal to make, own, or trade. As an adjective, it describes something that is forbidden by law to be brought into or taken out of a place.
From Italian *contrabbando*, from *contra* 'against' and *bando* 'ban, proclamation'. It originally meant goods traded against an official ban.
Contraband isn’t just drugs or weapons; it can be anything the law or authority has banned in that place, even books or food. During some wars and empires, everyday items like salt or cloth were contraband if taxed or banned. The word is a reminder that 'illegal' can change wildly with time and power.
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