1
: a person excluded from the benefit or protection of the law
2
a
: a lawless person or a fugitive from the law
b
: a person or organization under a ban or restriction
c
: one that is unconventional or rebellious
3
: an animal (such as a horse) that is wild and unmanageable
outlaw
adjective
outlawed; outlawing; outlaws
1
a
: to deprive of the benefit and protection of law : declare to be an outlaw
b
: to make illegal
outlawed dueling
2
: to place under a ban or restriction
3
: to remove from legal jurisdiction or enforcement
Examples of outlaw in a Sentence
Noun
Billy the Kid was one of the most famous outlaws of America's early history.
Verb
That type of gun was outlawed last year.
The government passed a bill outlawing the hiring of children under the age of 12.
Recent Examples on the Web
Josh Crutchmer, Rolling Stone, 25 July 2025
The gravy is everything else: adorable Baby Groot dancing in the middle of a space battle, Dave Bautista’s Drax being the buff, oddball voice of reason, and Michael Rooker’s space outlaw Yondu stealing the show.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 25 July 2025
John C. Moritz, Austin American Statesman, 30 July 2025
The City Council outlawed building backyard apartments on property lines in April 2022, but the new rule couldn’t take effect in the city’s coastal neighborhoods without a second approval from the California Coastal Commission.
—David Garrick, Mercury News, 30 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for outlaw
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Noun
The 44-year-old Texan has worn badass on his sleeve from the get-go, cutting the coolest figure in country music for the better part of a decade in his brash voice, hard-living lyrics, and modern long-haired outlaw.
—Josh Crutchmer, Rolling Stone, 25 July 2025
The gravy is everything else: adorable Baby Groot dancing in the middle of a space battle, Dave Bautista’s Drax being the buff, oddball voice of reason, and Michael Rooker’s space outlaw Yondu stealing the show.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 25 July 2025
Verb
The Senate has passed legislation to outlaw courier companies in Texas, and a separate proposal to ban the bulk purchase of lottery tickets is awaiting the chamber's consideration.
—John C. Moritz, Austin American Statesman, 30 July 2025
The City Council outlawed building backyard apartments on property lines in April 2022, but the new rule couldn’t take effect in the city’s coastal neighborhoods without a second approval from the California Coastal Commission.
—David Garrick, Mercury News, 30 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for outlaw
Cite this Entry
“Outlaw.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/outlaw. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
outlaw
1 of 2 noun
out·law
ˈau̇t-ˌlȯ 
1
: a person who is not given the protection of the law
2
: a lawless person or one who is running away from the law
3
: an animal (as a horse) that is wild and hard to control
outlaw
adjective
outlaw
2 of 2 verb1
: to deprive of the protection of law
2
: to make illegal
dueling was outlawed
Legal Definition
outlaw
1 of 2 noun
out·law
ˈau̇t-ˌlȯ
1
: a person excluded from the benefit or protection of the law
a trespasser is not an outlaw
2
: a lawless person or a fugitive from the law
3
: a person or organization (as a nation) under a ban or restriction or considered to be in defiance of norms or laws
considered an outlaw for its support of terrorism
Etymology
Noun
Old English ūtlaga, from Old Norse ūtlagi, from ūt out + lag, lǫg law
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