verb

bootleg

BOOT-lehg

verb

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

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

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

bootlegged past tense, bootlegs plural, bootlegs singular

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Can you complete this real example?

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

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