outlaw Definition
out·law (o̵ut′lô′)
noun
- Historical a person declared by a court of law to be deprived of legal rights and protection, generally for the commission of some crime: the killing of such a person was not a legal offense
- a habitual or notorious criminal who is a fugitive from the law
- a fierce or uncontrollable horse or other animal
Etymology: ME outlawe < OE utlaga < ON útlagr, lit., outlawed: see out & law
transitive verb
- Historical to declare to be an outlaw
- in the U.S., to remove the legal force of (contracts, etc.)
- to declare unlawful or illegal
- to bar, or ban
outlaw Synonyms
outlaw Synonyms
outlaw Usage Examples
Object
- incitement: In the longer term we ask you introduce legislation to outlaw incitement to homophobic violence.
- discrimination: We would outlaw discrimination against early leavers in pension schemes.
- slavery: Muhammad and his successors were rulers and could have outlawed slavery.
- abortion: A move to outlaw abortion would cause untold civil unrest.
- hunting: Assembly Members asking them to support legislation to outlaw hunting with hounds.
- hatred: Does the desire for social peace mean we should still be looking for some form of legislation to outlaw religious hatred?
Converse of object
declare: At the instigation of one of his brothers he is thrown into prison, escapes and is declared an outlaw.
Adjective modifier
- notorious: Newman portrays notorious outlaw Billy the Kid in director Arthur Penn's first feature, " The Left-Handed Gun " ( 1958 ).
- legendary: Nick is the son of legendary outlaw Bruce Richard Reynolds, mastermind of the Great Train Robbery in 1963.
- famous: All parties united under the banner of the age's most famous outlaw, Hereward the Wake.
Modifies a noun
- gang: John's work brought the violence of outlaw gang literally into their home and he was often away for extended periods of time.
- regime: Saddam Hussein and his outlaw regime pose a grave threat to the region, the world, and the United States.
Modifying Another Word
- effectively: Legitimate coarse fishing methods are effectively outlawed by Scottish angling legislation.
- specifically: Specifically outlaw online betting in imposed regulation agriculture fisheries forestry.
- formally: Programs aimed at reducing the number of people in the world have been formally outlawed.
- completely: It's a wonder we aren't completely outlawed.
- finally: It was not until 1833 that the Trade was finally outlawed in Parliament.
Noun used with modifier
Preposition: of
discrimination: The British Humanist Association welcomes the outlawing of discrimination based on religion or belief.

