bootlegger

noun

boot·​leg·​ger ˈbüt-ˌle-gər 

-ˌlā-

plural bootleggers

: one who bootlegs something: such as

a

: a person who makes or sells alcoholic liquor illegally

… in sleepy little St-Hilaire, once a Prohibition boom town, from which bootleggers smuggled truckloads of whisky into the U.S. …

—Will Ferguson

Most of us associate the pocket flask with the Roaring Twenties era of the bootlegger and the speakeasy …

—Linda Rosenkrantz

b

: a person who produces, reproduces, or distributes something (such as a recording) illicitly or without authorization

As part of his job, Schoenfeld is charged with ferreting out record bootleggers and protecting the copyright interests of record labels.

—Holly Gleason

… the conversation ran from how the different companies project returns on direct mail to efforts to crack down on software bootleggers.

—Leslie Brokaw

Synonyms of bootlegger

• smuggler

Examples of bootlegger in a Sentence

a bootlegger of counterfeit electronics

Recent Examples on the Web

The supporting cast is well stocked with character actors who bring humor and pathos to this gaggle of spouses, friends, lovers and bootleggers. — Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 1 Oct. 2026

The spicy margarita and bootlegger cocktails were lady-friend approved, and the guys all loved their beers. — Jess Fleming, Twin Cities, 27 Aug. 2026

Your guide will teach you about the origins of Prohibition and tell stories of infamous bootleggers. — Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Aug. 2026

Brian Wilson wrote the song in 1963 with his buddy Bob Norberg, and the band cut a version that year during the Surfer Girl sessions that eventually leaked out to bootleggers. — Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 17 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

bootleg entry 1 + -er entry 2

First Known Use

1883, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for bootlegger

• beggar
• egger
• jaeger