What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
contrabandist
Example
The police arrested the contrabandist for smuggling illegal drugs into the country. [contrabandist: noun]
Example
He was caught trying to cross the border with contraband goods hidden in his car. [contraband: adjective]
smuggler
Example
The smuggler was caught trying to bring illegal weapons into the country. [smuggler: noun]
Example
She was charged with smuggling contraband goods across the border. [smuggling: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Smuggler is more commonly used than contrabandist in everyday language. Smuggler is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while contrabandist is less common and has a more specific meaning.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between contrabandist and smuggler?
Contrabandist is typically associated with a more formal and legal tone, while smuggler is more versatile and can be employed in various formality levels, allowing it to be used in both formal and informal contexts.