How to pronounce outlaw
Say it like OWT-law. Outlaw has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (OWT).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce outlaw. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- OWT
- law
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Outlaw pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- OWTSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ow" in now.
- lawGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
American vs British pronunciation of outlaw
American and British speakers say outlaw in essentially the same way: /ˈaʊtˌlɔ/ in the US and /ˈaʊtlɔː/ in the UK.
British respelling: OWT-law.
What does outlaw mean?
- someone who has committed a crime or has been legally convicted of a crime
- declare illegal; outlaw“Marijuana is criminalized in the U.S.”
- contrary to or forbidden by law“an illegitimate seizure of power”“illicit trade”
- disobedient to or defiant of law“lawless bands roaming the plains”
Where does outlaw come from?
From Middle English outlawe, outlagh, utlaȝe, from Old English ūtlaga (“outlaw”), borrowed from Old Norse útlagi (“outlaw, fugitive”), equivalent to out- + law.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
Questions about saying outlaw
How do you pronounce outlaw?
Say OWT-law. The American pronunciation is /ˈaʊtˌlɔ/. In British English it is /ˈaʊtlɔː/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in outlaw?
Outlaw has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (OWT). Broken into parts: OWT · law.
Do Americans and Brits say outlaw the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈaʊtˌlɔ/ and the British form is /ˈaʊtlɔː/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.