Meaning & use

outlaw

noun·Academic

A person who has broken the law and is being pursued by authorities, especially a fugitive.

See it in a sentence

The old western told the story of an outlaw hunted across three states by federal marshals.

The gang of outlaws robbed banks along the frontier before finally being captured.

A note on using this word

Often evokes a historical or Wild West context; also used as a verb meaning to ban something officially.

Words with a similar meaning

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Another way to use it

2. verb

To make something illegal through an official ban.

The new government moved quickly to outlaw the sale of unlicensed firearms.

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “outlaw”, then compare your use with the examples above.

Your draft stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.