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 (such as a horse) that is wild and unmanageable
outlaw
adjective
outlawed; outlawing; outlaws
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
Synonyms
Examples of outlaw in a Sentence
Noun
Billy the Kid was one of the most famous outlaws of America's early history.
Verb
That type of gun was outlawed last year.
The government passed a bill outlawing the hiring of children under the age of 12.
Recent Examples on the Web
Ethan Blevins, National Review, 5 Nov. 2024
This new wing of the genre, soon called outlaw country, was less polished, more prickly and turbulent, more prone to exploring gray areas of morality.
—Andrew R. Chow, TIME, 30 Sep. 2024
Reuters, NBC News, 4 Nov. 2024
When it was outlawed under the 1970 Controlled Substances Act, the modest interest that remained was largely put on ice.
—Oshan Jarow, Vox, 4 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for outlaw 
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show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
But those still hunting for Cassidy’s treasure could join the Wild Bunch in outlaw status.
—Ethan Blevins, National Review, 5 Nov. 2024
This new wing of the genre, soon called outlaw country, was less polished, more prickly and turbulent, more prone to exploring gray areas of morality.
—Andrew R. Chow, TIME, 30 Sep. 2024
Verb
The legislation does not directly outlaw UNRWA’s operations in the West Bank and Gaza, both considered by international law to be outside the state of Israel but under Israeli occupation.
—Reuters, NBC News, 4 Nov. 2024
When it was outlawed under the 1970 Controlled Substances Act, the modest interest that remained was largely put on ice.
—Oshan Jarow, Vox, 4 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for outlaw
Dictionary Entries Near outlaw
Cite this Entry
“Outlaw.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/outlaw. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
outlaw
1 of 2 noun
out·law
ˈau̇t-ˌlȯ 
1
: a person who is not given the protection of the law
2
: a lawless person or one who is running away from the law
3
: an animal (as a horse) that is wild and hard to control
outlaw
adjective
outlaw
2 of 2 verb1
: to deprive of the protection of law
2
: to make illegal
dueling was outlawed
Legal Definition
outlaw
1 of 2 noun
out·law
ˈau̇t-ˌlȯ
1
: a person excluded from the benefit or protection of the law
a trespasser is not an outlaw
2
: a lawless person or a fugitive from the law
3
: a person or organization (as a nation) under a ban or restriction or considered to be in defiance of norms or laws
considered an outlaw for its support of terrorism
Etymology
Noun
Old English ūtlaga, from Old Norse ūtlagi, from ūt out + lag, lǫg law
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