Outlaws: meaning, definitions and examples
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outlaws
[ ˈaʊtˌlɔːz ]
criminal activity
Outlaws are individuals who have broken the law and are considered to be outside the protection of the law. Historically, outlaws were often those who committed serious crimes, such as theft or murder, and were pursued actively by law enforcement agents. The term is often associated with a romanticized idea of rebellion against authority and societal norms.
Synonyms
criminals, fugitives, lawbreakers, rebels.
Examples of usage
- The outlaws fled into the mountains after the heist.
- Many stories in the Wild West featured outlaws as central characters.
- The group of outlaws planned a daring escape from prison.
- Outlaws have often been depicted in literature and film as anti-heroes.
Etymology
The word 'outlaw' originates from the Old English word 'utlaw', which came from the combination of 'ut' meaning 'out' and 'lawe', meaning 'law'. Initially, an outlaw was someone who was 'put outside the law' - meaning that they were stripped of legal protection and could be harmed or captured without consequence. In medieval England, this punishment was often seen as a form of social exile. Over the centuries, the term evolved to describe those who flouted the law, particularly in contexts such as the American Wild West, where figures like Jesse James and Billy the Kid became iconic outlaws. The romanticism of outlaws has persisted in popular culture, leading to their portrayal as heroes in various stories and films, despite their criminal activities.