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verb

bootleg

BOOT-lehg
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Bootleg (verb) means to make, transport, or sell something illegally, especially alcohol or unauthorized copies of copyrighted material. Example: “During Prohibition, plenty of people bootlegged whiskey out of their basements.”

verb
1
To make, transport, or sell something illegally, especially alcohol or unauthorized copies of copyrighted material.
"During Prohibition, plenty of people bootlegged whiskey out of their basements."
"Vendors were bootlegging DVDs of the movie before it even hit theaters."
noun
1
An illegally made or sold product, especially an unauthorized recording or a knockoff item.
"He collected bootlegs of live concerts that were never officially released."
"The market stall was full of obvious bootlegs of designer handbags."
adj
1
Made, sold, or copied illegally.
"They got caught selling bootleg copies of the new album outside the venue."

How to use bootleg

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishSomething illegal made or copied without permission — think fake merchandise, pirated recordings, or homemade alcohol.

Common mistake

Don't confuse the noun/adjective sense (a fake or illegal copy) with the verb (the act of making or selling it).

Common pairings
bootleg copy bootleg recording bootleg liquor
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Word forms

Plural
bootlegs
Third person singular
bootlegs
Past tense
bootlegged
Test yourself on “bootleg” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

He collected _____ of live concerts that were never officially released.

Etymology

From "boot" + "leg" — smugglers in the 1700s and 1800s hid illegal bottles of liquor inside the legs of their tall boots.

· First attested 1700

Class of 1700 bootleg joined the language around 1700.
ache argh battleship Boswell broadcast
See the full Class of 1700 →

Synonyms

View more →
moonshine corn liquor black smuggled contraband

Antonyms

legal

Related words

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Frequently asked questions

What does “bootleg” mean?
The word “bootleg” means to make, transport, or sell something illegally, especially alcohol or unauthorized copies of copyrighted material. In plain terms, something illegal made or copied without permission — think fake merchandise, pirated recordings, or homemade alcohol.
How do you pronounce “bootleg”?
“Bootleg” is pronounced BOOT-lehg (/ˈbutˌlɛɡ/ in IPA).
How do you use “bootleg” in a sentence?
Here is “bootleg” used in a sentence: “During Prohibition, plenty of people bootlegged whiskey out of their basements.”
What part of speech is “bootleg”?
Depending on how it is used, “bootleg” can be a verb, a noun and an adjective.
Where does the word “bootleg” come from?
The word “bootleg” dates back to around 1700. From "boot" + "leg" — smugglers in the 1700s and 1800s hid illegal bottles of liquor inside the legs of their tall boots.
How many meanings does “bootleg” have?
“Bootleg” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to make, transport, or sell something illegally, especially alcohol or unauthorized copies of copyrighted material.

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