bootleg
verb
bootlegged; bootlegging; bootlegs
1
a
: to carry (alcoholic liquor) on one's person illegally
b
: to manufacture, sell, or transport for sale (alcoholic liquor) illegally
2
a
: to produce, reproduce, or distribute illicitly or without authorization
b
: smuggle
Examples of bootleg in a Sentence
He bootlegged the show and gave copies to several friends.
Recent Examples on the Web
After the songs were bootlegged for years, Coe began selling them on his website in 2000, though without his name on them.
—
Victoria Edel, PEOPLE, 30 Apr. 2026
Or maybe some seconds or some minutes have been bootlegged.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 23 Feb. 2026
Old albums were unearthed, bootlegged, and reissued.
—Hanif Abdurraqib, New Yorker, 6 Feb. 2026
When bootlegged videotapes of her abuse were being sold on street corners for $10 a copy.
—Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 31 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bootleg
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Victoria Edel, PEOPLE, 30 Apr. 2026
Or maybe some seconds or some minutes have been bootlegged.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 23 Feb. 2026
Old albums were unearthed, bootlegged, and reissued.
—Hanif Abdurraqib, New Yorker, 6 Feb. 2026
When bootlegged videotapes of her abuse were being sold on street corners for $10 a copy.
—Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 31 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bootleg
Cite this Entry
“Bootleg.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bootleg. Accessed 9 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
bootleg
1 of 2 verb
boot·leg
-ˌleg 
bootlegged; bootlegging
1
: to make, transport, or sell alcoholic liquor illegally
2
a
: to produce or sell illegally or without permission
bootlegged recordings
b
bootlegger
noun
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