What does "bootleg" mean?
The part of a boot that is above the instep.
Bootleg
/ˈbutˌlɛɡ/ adj, noun, verb
adj, noun, verb ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The part of a boot that is above the instep.
- Grammar: bootleg is listed as adj, noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: moonshine, actionable, against the law, anarchic.
- Useful contrasts: authentic, authentic product, authorize.
- Usage evidence: I just got some new bootleg tapes.
How to use "bootleg"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "bootleg" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "bootleg" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "bootleg" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "bootleg" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "bootleg" is acting as adj, noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "moonshine" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "bootleg", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The part of a boot that is above the instep.
"Holonyms: upper < boot"
- 2 the part of a boot above the instep wordnet
- 3 An illegally produced, transported, or sold product.
"He thinks he can cross this border with bootleg and get away with it. I doubt he's right. Maybe years ago, but not nowadays."
- 4 whiskey illegally distilled from a corn mash wordnet
- 5 An unauthorized recording; for example, of a live concert.
"Years ago I heard a fantastic bootleg of that song. It was my favorite rendition."
Show 2 more definitions
- 6 A remix or mashup that is a combination of two songs but that is not authorized and audited for copyright use; primarily in the electronic music scene.
- 7 A play in which the quarterback fakes a handoff, conceals the ball against his hip, and rolls out.
Verb
- 1 To engage in bootlegging. ambitransitive
"Only certain dishes are allowed—-not fish and lobster, reserved to the state restaurants—-and those paladares that break the rules operate like speakeasies in the time of Prohibition, the fish-bootlegging owners keeping a nervous eye out for informers."
- 2 produce or distribute illegally wordnet
- 3 To engage in bootlegging.; To make, transport and/or sell illegal alcoholic liquor. US, ambitransitive
"In the 1930s, Grandpa used to bootleg to make ends meet."
- 4 sell illicit products such as drugs or alcohol wordnet
- 5 To engage in bootlegging.; To make, transport and/or sell an illegal version or copy of a copyrighted product. ambitransitive
"In the 1990s, Grandpa used to bootleg under some sort of Robin-Hood-esque notion."
Show 1 more definition
- 6 To engage in bootlegging.; To operate a mine illicitly. US, ambitransitive
"In the 1930s, Grandpa used to bootleg to make ends meet."
Adjective
- 1 Illegally produced, transported, or sold. not-comparable
"Near-synonym: pirated"
- 2 Being an inferior imitation of something, possibly a counterfeit. not-comparable
"bootleg coffee"
Adjective
- 1 distributed or sold illicitly wordnet
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"I just got some new bootleg tapes."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "bootleg"?
Common synonyms include: moonshine, actionable, against the law, anarchic, anarchistic, anomic.
How do you use "bootleg" in a sentence?
I just got some new bootleg tapes.
How do you pronounce "bootleg"?
Pronounced /ˈbutˌlɛɡ/.
Etymology
From boot + leg. Originally a nickname given to smugglers in King George III's reign, derived from the smugglers' custom of hiding packages of valuables in their large sea-boots when dodging the king's coastguardsmen.