Mann Act

proper noun

A federal law passed in 1910 prohibiting transportation of women across state lines for immoral purposes.

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Meanings

proper noun
  1. USlawA federal law passed in 1910 prohibiting transportation of women across state lines for immoral purposes.

    Enacted during a time of great change and "moral panic," the Mann Act was originally designed to combat forced prostitution.

    2008 March 11, Eric Weiner, “The Long, Colorful History of the Mann Act”, in All Things Considered

Origin

Named for the law's author, Congressman James Robert Mann.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

Mann Act. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Mann%20Act

MLA

“Mann Act.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Mann%20Act. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Mann Act,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Mann%20Act.

Source: Mann Act on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.