# haram

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/haram
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. forbidden by law

adjective · CEFR B2

forbidden by Islamic law or religious rules.

For teachers: prohibited by Islamic law; the opposite of halal. Often used to describe dietary restrictions or prohibited behaviors.

- In many cultures, eating pork is considered haram for religious reasons.
- The scholar explained that certain financial transactions involving interest are considered haram under traditional Islamic banking principles.

### 2. a sin

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal

an act that is a sin or is morally wrong.

For teachers: a forbidden act or a sin. In modern informal contexts, it is sometimes used to describe something socially shameful.

- It is a haram to waste food when so many people are hungry.
- In some communities, showing such disrespect to one's elders is viewed as a major haram.

### 3. socially forbidden

adjective · CEFR C1 · Slang · Informal

used to describe something that is socially wrong or shameful, even if not strictly religious.

For teachers: used figuratively or colloquially to describe actions that are socially taboo or morally questionable within a specific cultural framework.

- Dating your best friend's ex-boyfriend is totally haram in our group.
- The younger generation often uses the term haram jokingly to describe minor social faux pas or betrayals of friendship.

## Examples

- Eating pork is considered haram in Islam.
- The bank offers specialized accounts for customers who wish to avoid interest-bearing loans, which are haram.
- Scholars debated whether the new financial instrument should be classified as haram, eventually concluding that its speculative nature violated core ethical principles of the faith.

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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.