smuggle

/ˈsmʌgəl/

/ˈsmʌgəl/

Other forms: smuggled; smuggles

If you import or export something without paying customs duties, you smuggle it. All kinds of things have been smuggled over the years: art, alcohol, drugs, animals, even tea!

The verb smuggle has expanded to generally mean to bring something in or out in secret, especially if doing so breaks a rule or a law. Kids may smuggle candy into a movie theater so they don't have to pay the high prices at the concession stand. You may smuggle Christmas presents into the house so your kids don't see them. Illegal immigrants may be smuggled into the country for a fee, but if caught they can be deported.

Definitions of smuggle

1. verb

   import or export without paying customs duties
   type of:

   import

   bring in from abroad

   export

   sell or transfer abroad
2. verb

   put, bring, or take in a secretive or furtive manner
   synonyms: sneak

   type of:

   act, move

   perform an action, or work out or perform (an action)