# disallowed

/ˌdɪsəˈɫaʊd/ (US) · /dˌɪsɐlˈaʊd/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/disallowed
Updated: 2026-05-09

## Definition

not allowed or not accepted, especially because it breaks a rule. You often hear this in sports when a goal or a point is cancelled.

For teachers: declared invalid or prohibited by an authority or according to a set of rules. Often used predicatively after a linking verb or as a participial adjective modifying a noun.

## Examples

- The referee said the goal was disallowed.
- The judge ruled that the evidence was disallowed because it was obtained without a proper warrant.
- The striker's celebration was cut short when the linesman raised his flag, signaling that the goal was disallowed due to an offside position earlier in the play.

## Usage notes

- Commonly used in legal, sporting, and administrative contexts to describe the rejection of a claim or action.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.