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Definition of bootlegger

bootlegger

/ˈbuːtˌlɛɡ.ɚ/
boot · leg · ger
Plural:bootleggers
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bootlegger Lexical Profile

bootlegger Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A person who makes, distributes, or sells alcoholic beverages illegally, especially during the era of Prohibition in the United States.

Example

"During the 1920s, the notorious bootlegger built a vast smuggling network across the state."

2

A person who produces, reproduces, or distributes unauthorized or counterfeit goods, especially musical recordings, films, or software.

Example

"Security guards confiscated the hidden microphone from a concert bootlegger in the front row."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for bootlegger

• Nearby Words

bootie
bootlace
bootleg
bootlegger
bootlick
bootlicker
bootlicking

Word Origin & Etymology

Originating in 19th-century American English, the term refers to the practice among smugglers of concealing flat flasks of illicit liquor inside the tall legs of their boots to evade detection.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Bootlegger. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/bootlegger
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