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
Tommy McArdle, PEOPLE, 21 Oct. 2025
Like Jeff, Ryan Gosling’s character in The Place Beyond the Pines becomes an outlaw because of this consumerist pressure.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 16 Oct. 2025
Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 30 Oct. 2025
Trump has claimed that funding such care is a major economic burden while attempting to outlaw it throughout the country.
—Samantha Riedel, Them., 30 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for outlaw
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
Rapunzel embarks on an adventure and eventually reunites with her parents with the help of the outlaw Flynn Rider (Zachary Levi).
—Tommy McArdle, PEOPLE, 21 Oct. 2025
Like Jeff, Ryan Gosling’s character in The Place Beyond the Pines becomes an outlaw because of this consumerist pressure.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 16 Oct. 2025
Verb
In 1921, the UK passed its own anti-plumage legislation which outlawed the importing of exotic birds for fashion.
—Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 30 Oct. 2025
Trump has claimed that funding such care is a major economic burden while attempting to outlaw it throughout the country.
—Samantha Riedel, Them., 30 Oct. 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 4 Nov. 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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