smuggle

verb

smug·​gle ˈsmə-gəl How to pronounce smuggle (audio)
smuggled; smuggling ˈsmə-g(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce smuggle (audio)

transitive verb

1
: to import or export secretly contrary to the law and especially without paying duties imposed by law
2
: to convey or introduce surreptitiously

intransitive verb

: to import or export something in violation of the customs laws

Examples of smuggle in a Sentence

He was arrested for smuggling drugs into the country. They smuggled immigrants across the border. The paintings had been smuggled out of the country before the war. We smuggled his favorite sandwich past the nurse.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Montages were also important in conveying more of an abstract rhythm, such as showing the technical film development process in the beginning or trying to smuggle film into the Olympic Village. Bill Desowitz, IndieWire, 18 Dec. 2024 When exactly the statue’s head and torso were separated isn’t known, but experts now think that both pieces were smuggled out of the country in the 1960s. Julia Binswanger, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 Dec. 2024 Meanwhile back in Brazil, government attorneys were accusing Filho and Ribeiro of illegally mining the gem and smuggling it out of the country. Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 13 Dec. 2024 In any event, fentanyl is typically smuggled into the United States by U.S. citizens through legal means, such as airport travel and through the mail, not in the backpacks of families wading across the Rio Grande. Orlando Sentinel and South Florida Sun Sentinel Editorial Boards, Orlando Sentinel, 7 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for smuggle 

Word History

Etymology

Low German smuggeln & Dutch smokkelen

First Known Use

1687, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of smuggle was in 1687

Dictionary Entries Near smuggle

Cite this Entry

“Smuggle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/smuggle. Accessed 30 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

smuggle

verb
smug·​gle ˈsməg-əl How to pronounce smuggle (audio)
smuggled; smuggling -(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce smuggle (audio)
1
: to export or import secretly and unlawfully especially to avoid paying taxes
smuggle jewels
2
: to take, bring, or introduce secretly
smuggler noun

Legal Definition

smuggle

verb
smug·​gle ˈsmə-gəl How to pronounce smuggle (audio)
smuggled; smuggling

transitive verb

: to import or export secretly and illegally especially to avoid paying duties or to evade enforcement of laws
smuggle drugs
convicted of smuggling weapons

intransitive verb

: to export or import something in violation of customs laws
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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