outlaw

plural outlaws

1. A fugitive from the law.

   “I am going to a certain tower, one of three that were built in my grandsire’s time to guard Lantern Waste against certain perilous outlaws who dwelled there in his day. […]"

   1956, C. S. Lewis, chapter 5, in The Last Battle, Collins, published 1998

   Synonyms: absconder, fugitive

2. historyA criminal who is excluded from normal legal rights; one who can be killed at will without legal penalty.

   Synonyms: bandit, wolf's head

3. A person who operates outside established norms.

   The main character in the play was a bit of an outlaw who refused to shake hands or say thank you.

   Synonyms: anti-hero, deviant

4. A wild or violent animal, such as a horse.
5. humorousAn in-law: a relative by marriage.
6. humorousOne who would be an in-law except that the marriage-like relationship is unofficial.
7. slangA prostitute who works alone, without a pimp.

   Without a pimp, she was an "outlaw," likely to be harassed, or threatened with assault or robbery on the street.

   1977, Joseph Julian, Social Problems, page 463

   1 more example

   She was an outlaw. Chance is doing some double-checking to see if she had a pimp nobody knew about, but it doesn't look likely.

   2010, Lawrence Block, Eight Million Ways To Die

present singular third person outlaws · participle present outlawing · participle past outlawed · past outlawed

1. transitiveTo declare illegal.
2. transitiveTo place a ban upon.

   The legal change in England and Wales will outlaw selling, manufacturing, renting or importing zombie knives.

   2016 August 15, “'Zombie knives' ban to come into force”, in BBC News, archived from the original on 30 Aug 2023

   1 more example

   And outlawing these AR-15s would not require confiscating them from people who already have them. Once you’ve made these weapons illegal, anyone found with one would be subject to arrest, since possession of these weapons would be a crime. I think it’s likely that you would see a lot of people opting to turn them in.

   2022 June 5, Michael Fanone, “Opinion: Here’s the reason people tell me they want to buy an AR-15. And it’s simply ludicrous”, in CNN, archived from the original on 30 Aug 2023

3. transitiveTo make or declare (a person) an outlaw.

   Eirik and his people were outlawed at Thorsnes Thing.

   1880, John Sephton, transl., The Saga of Erik the Red

   1 more example

   AB has now gone beyond her original stance against gays as teachers and is now advocating a federal law to outlaw gays, a law which would override state law in the 19 states which have consenting adults sex laws.

   1978 February 11, Donald Cameron Scot, “Controversy and Boycott Must Continue”, in Gay Community News, volume 5, number 31, page 5

4. transitiveTo remove from legal jurisdiction or enforcement.

   to outlaw a debt or claim

5. To deprive of legal force.

   our English common law was outlawed in those parts.

   a. 1662 (date written), Thomas Fuller, The History of the Worthies of England, London: […] J[ohn] G[rismond,] W[illiam] L[eybourne] and W[illiam] G[odbid], published 1662, →OCLC

plural Outlaws · alternative Outler · alternative Outley

1. A surname transferred from the nickname.

   In the book, Nathan Outlaw offers helpful advice and tips on buying the freshest fish and shellfish in a sustainably responsible way.

   2013, Nathan Outlaw, Modern Seafood