taboo
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a rule or custom that stops people from doing or talking about something because it is seen as wrong or embarrassing.
n.a social or cultural prohibition resulting from custom or emotional aversion, often governing behaviour or speech deemed offensive.
Simple“In many cultures, asking someone about their salary is a social taboo.”
In context“The documentary explores how various social taboos regarding mental health have shifted significantly over the last few decades.”
UsageOften used with the verb 'break' or 'violate'.
SynonymsAntonyms - 02 C1 Advanced
n.something that is forbidden because it is considered very holy or sacred.
n.a prohibition based on the sacred or consecrated status of an object, person, or place, rendering it untouchable or unmentionable.
Simple“The tribe has a strict taboo against entering the ancient forest.”
In context“Anthropologists studied the complex religious taboos that governed who could handle the ceremonial relics during the festival.”
Teacher's tipThis sense is more technical and academic; in everyday English, 'taboo' usually refers to social awkwardness rather than religious law.
Synonymssanctityinterdiction - 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.describes something that you must not do or talk about because of social rules.
adj.proscribed by society as improper or unacceptable; forbidden from use, approach, or mention.
Simple“Politics and religion were once considered taboo subjects at the dinner table.”
In context“The author gained fame by writing about taboo topics that most mainstream publishers were too afraid to touch at the time.”
SynonymsAntonyms - 04 C2 Proficiency
v.to officially forbid something or mark it as something that people should avoid.
v.to place under a taboo; to prohibit or forbid by social or religious authority.
Simple“The council decided to taboo any further discussion of the controversial project.”
In context“Certain traditional societies taboo the naming of the deceased for a specific period following the funeral rites.”
UsageThis verb is transitive and requires a direct object.
“He touches on some questions that feel taboo within this community, such as why middle-class black Britons tend to date white people.”
Borrowed from Tongan tapu (“prohibited, sacred”), from Proto-Polynesian tapu, from Proto-Oceanic tabu, from Proto-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *tambu. Doublet of kapu. First attested in c. 1777. The p in the Tongan source was misheard as b.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.