smuggle

play

verb smug·gle \ˈsmə-gəl\

Definition of smuggle

smuggled

;

smuggling

play \-g(ə-)liŋ\

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

smuggler

play \ˈsmə-glər\ noun

See smuggle defined for English-language learners

See smuggle defined for kids

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 of smuggle from the Web

A former Miss Kentucky USA from Louisville is accused of smuggling drugs into an Ohio prison for an inmate.

— thomas novelly, The Courier-Journal, "Miss Kentucky 2011 accused of smuggling drugs into Ohio prison," 20 July 2017
Activists say some defectors return to smuggle out relatives or are abducted in China and taken into the North.

— Bloomberg.com, "South Korean Police Investigating Defector's Return to North," 19 July 2017
The artifacts include ancient clay tablets featuring cuneiform writing, clay bullae, and cylinder seals, and were allegedly smuggled into the U.S via The United Arab Emirates and Israel for $1.6 million.

— robert newhouse, Teen Vogue, "A Black Deliveryman Hasn’t Been Able To Return To Work After Being Given a Homemade Noose By a Butcher," 6 July 2017
The objects are believed to come from Iraq, where they were smuggled into other Middle Eastern countries.

— jason daley, Smithsonian, "Hobby Lobby Hands Over 5,500 Illegally Imported Artifacts," 6 July 2017
Four months ago, the U.N. published an exhaustive report documenting how Kim's government smuggles nuclear materials, cash and ammunition through an elaborate underground web of foreign enablers, skirting the existing sanctions.

— pamela falk, CBS News, "Nikki Haley: U.S. prepared to use "full range" of capabilities to defend against N. Korea," 5 July 2017
The DOJ said the company smuggled the artifacts into the United States, and the arts and crafts chain on Wednesday agreed to a settlement with the US Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York.

— chris boyette, CNN, "Hobby Lobby to pay $3 million fine, forfeit smuggled ancient artifacts," 5 July 2017
Airline bombings in Egypt and Somalia in recent months were both blamed on explosives smuggled aboard planes.

— bart jansen, USA TODAY, "Etihad drops laptop ban on U.S. flights from Abu Dhabi meeting tougher security standards," 2 July 2017
The tax cuts for the rich and reductions in health-care subsidies that McConnell wants to smuggle into a bill patching up the exchanges are hideously unpopular.

— jonathan chait, Daily Intelligencer, "The Republican Health-Care Lie Is Collapsing," 29 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'smuggle.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of smuggle

Low German smuggeln & Dutch smokkelen

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1687

See Words from the same year

SMUGGLE Defined for English Language Learners

smuggle

play

verb

Definition of smuggle for English Language Learners

: to move (someone or something) from one country into another illegally and secretly
: to take or bring (something) secretly

SMUGGLE Defined for Kids

smuggle

play

verb smug·gle \ˈsmə-gəl\

Definition of smuggle for Students

smuggled

;

smuggling

1 : to export or import secretly and unlawfully They smuggled stolen goods.
2 : to take or bring secretly It had been my intention to smuggle a couple of sandwiches … — Mark Twain, A Connecticut Yankee