outlaw

An outlaw is usually someone who has broken the law and is hiding from it or living in open defiance of it. The word often brings to mind Wild West gunmen, robbers, or legendary figures like Robin Hood. It can also describe someone seen as rebellious or outside normal rules, though that use is more figurative. In modern English, "outlaw" is also a verb meaning to make something illegal. You might say a criminal became an outlaw after fleeing arrest, or that a city decided to outlaw plastic bags.

The word "outlaw" conjures images of dusty trails, wanted posters, and daring escapes. In its older legal sense, it referred to a person placed outside the protection of the law. That historical meaning comes from medieval legal practice, where someone who refused to appear in court or defied authority could be formally declared an outlaw.

Today, we most often use the noun to describe someone who has committed crimes and is avoiding capture, such as a bandit, robber, or fugitive. The word can also stretch into a broader, more figurative sense. A person who openly rejects accepted rules or social norms might be called an outlaw, especially if they seem bold, defiant, or hard to control.

Furthermore, the word functions as a powerful verb. To "outlaw" something is to officially ban it or make it illegal by legislation. For example, a government might outlaw certain chemicals or predatory lending practices.

The appeal of the outlaw often lies in their perceived independence. In stories and popular culture, such figures are often romanticized as people who reject control, even when they are also dangerous or criminal. Think of figures like Butch Cassidy, who lived outside the law but captured the public imagination. Whether used as a noun for a fugitive or rebel, or as a verb meaning to ban something by law, the word is defined by its place at the edge of authority and accepted rules.