Outlaw
ˈaʊtˌlɔː
Definitions
2 meaningsA person who has been excluded from the protection of the law; a fugitive or a habitual criminal.
ˈaʊtˌlɔː
A person who has been excluded from the protection of the law.
Robin Hood and his Merry Men were often depicted as outlaws fighting against injustice.
💡 Simply: Imagine the police are after someone because they did something bad. If the police catch them, they go to jail. If the police can't catch them, they are considered an outlaw—someone who is not protected by the law and is always running.
👶 For kids: An outlaw is someone who is not allowed to be protected by the law. They've broken the law and are now wanted!
More Examples
The government declared the rebel leader an outlaw and offered a reward for his capture.
Many Western films feature outlaws who are constantly pursued by law enforcement.
How It's Used
"In medieval England, outlaws were often bandits living outside the legal system."
"The state declared the criminal an outlaw, stripping him of his rights."
To make something illegal; to ban.
ˌaʊtˈlɔː
To make something illegal.
The new regulations outlawed smoking in public places.
💡 Simply: Let's say a rule is causing trouble. To outlaw something means to make it forbidden by law. Like if everyone agreed that something was dangerous they could outlaw it.
👶 For kids: To outlaw something is to make it against the law. Like if you outlaw playing video games at school!
More Examples
The organization is working to outlaw animal testing for cosmetics.
Many countries have outlawed the production of landmines.
How It's Used
"The government decided to outlaw the practice of using lead in paint."
"Many groups seek to outlaw discrimination based on gender identity."
Synonyms
Idioms & expressions
outlaw country
A subgenre of country music that emerged in the 1970s and rejected many of the conventions of mainstream Nashville country.
"Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings are iconic figures in outlaw country."
From Middle English *utlage*, from Old English *utlaga* ('outlaw, exile'), from *ut* ('out') + *laga* (law). Originally, it referred to a person deprived of the protection of the law.
The term 'outlaw' has been used for centuries to denote those outside the protection of the law, appearing frequently in medieval legal texts.
Memory tip
Think of the 'out' as being outside the law. An outlaw is outside the law's protection.