# proscribe

/pɹoʊsˈkɹaɪb/ (US) · /pɹəskɹˈaɪb/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/proscribe
Updated: 2026-10-08

## Definition

to officially forbid something or say that it is not allowed. A government or organization might do this to a specific activity or group for safety or legal reasons.

For teachers: to forbid or prohibit by law or official decree; to condemn as harmful or unlawful. Often used in legal or formal institutional contexts to denote an absolute ban.

## Examples

- The new law will proscribe smoking in all public parks.
- The international treaty aims to proscribe the use of chemical weapons in all armed conflicts.
- While the constitution protects free speech, it does not prevent the state from moving to proscribe organizations that actively incite violent insurrection.

## Synonyms

forbid, prohibit, Ban, Outlaw, disallow

## Antonyms

permit, allow, authorize, legalize

## Pitfalls

- Not "The doctor proscribed antibiotics for my cough." but "The doctor prescribed antibiotics for my cough." — Learners confuse 'proscribe' (to forbid) with 'prescribe' (to authorize or advise).

## Usage notes

- The verb is transitive and requires a direct object. It is frequently confused with 'prescribe', which has the opposite meaning of recommending or ordering a treatment.

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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.