smug·gle | \ ˈsmə-gəl 
\
\smuggled; smuggling\ ˈsmə-g(ə-)liŋ \
\Definition of smuggle
1 : to import or export secretly contrary to the law and especially without paying duties imposed by law
2 : to convey or introduce surreptitiously
: to import or export something in violation of the customs laws
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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.
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Recent Examples on the Web In one recent case, attorney general investigators found that several officers worked with jailed members of the Heartless Felons street gang to smuggle drugs, cellphones and other items into the jail.
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Adam Ferrise, cleveland, "Cuyahoga County Jail officer under investigation ‘inappropriate contact’ with inmate," 1 Dec. 2020 Richard DeLisi has been incarcerated since 1989 when, at the age of 40, he was convicted on charges of racketeering, trafficking in cannabis and conspiracy after agreeing to help smuggle more than 100 pounds of marijuana from Colombia into Florida.
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Eric Levenson, CNN, "Florida man to be released early after serving 31 years for nonviolent marijuana crime," 28 Nov. 2020 On at least one occasion, Herrera allowed Hunt to make a phone call from the prison to arrange for the delivery of Suboxone for Herrera to smuggle into prison, the indictment says.
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oregonlive, "Federal prison guard accused of accepting bribes to smuggle in marijuana, phones, cigarettes to inmates in Sheridan," 3 Nov. 2020 For decades, the United States patrolled the border alone, trying to block traffickers' increasingly creative attempts to smuggle drugs.
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Kevin Sieff, Anchorage Daily News, "Under the U.S.-Mexico border, miles of tunnels worth millions of dollars to traffickers," 13 Oct. 2020 For decades, the United States patrolled the border alone, attempting to block traffickers’ increasingly creative attempts to smuggle drugs.
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Kevin Sieff, Washington Post, "Under the U.S.-Mexico border, miles of tunnels worth millions of dollars — to traffickers," 13 Oct. 2020 Palestinians have used underground tunnels to smuggle all manner of goods into Gaza.
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Washington Post, "World Digest: Oct. 20, 2020," 20 Oct. 2020 Tractor-trailers are used to smuggle people from Mexico and through the ports of entry at border crossings, where all vehicles must pass in order to enter the county.
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Anna Giaritelli, Washington Examiner, "Highway checkpoint busts reveal trucks smuggling thousands of illegal immigrants," 22 Sep. 2020 Nansen managed to smuggle out of the camp page by page.
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courant.com, "Community News For The Manchester Edition," 6 Nov. 2020
See MoreThese 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.
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More Definitions for smuggle
smuggle
verbEnglish Language Learners Definition of smuggle
: to move (someone or something) from one country into another illegally and secretly
informal : to take or bring (something) secretly
See the full definition for smuggle in the English Language Learners Dictionary
smuggle
verbsmug·gle | \ ˈsmə-gəl \
\smuggled; smuggling
Kids Definition of smuggle
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
smuggle
verbsmug·gle | \ ˈsmə-gəl \
\smuggled; smuggling
Legal Definition of smuggle
: to import or export secretly and illegally especially to avoid paying duties or to evade enforcement of laws
smuggle drugs convicted of smuggling weapons
: to export or import something in violation of customs laws
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Time Traveler for smuggle
The first known use of smuggle was in 1687
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