proscribe
gb/pɹoʊskɹˈaɪb/ us/pɹoʊskɹˈaɪb/
C1
English
Senses
0 senses
Verb
formal
C1
action
1
officially forbid or ban
To officially say something is not allowed.
Usage pattern:
proscribe [something] (often + as [something])
Common mistake:
Do not confuse with "prescribe" (to recommend or order, especially medicine). "Proscribe" means ban/forbid.
Synonyms
ban (More common and less formal.)
|
prohibit (Close in meaning; often used in legal or formal contexts.)
|
forbid (General term; can be personal or official.)
|
outlaw (Emphasizes making something illegal.)
Antonyms
allow (To permit rather than forbid.)
|
permit (Formal/neutral opposite of banning.)
|
authorize (To give official permission.)
Collocations
proscribe an organization
|proscribe a group
|proscribe a practice
|proscribe a party
|proscribe a substance
|proscribe an activity
|proscribe by law
|proscribe as illegal
|proscribe under anti-terror laws
|proscribe gambling
Themes
law
|government
|politics
|rules
Examples
- The government moved to proscribe the group after a series of attacks.
- Several countries proscribe hate speech under their criminal laws.
- The new policy would proscribe single-use plastics in public buildings.
Learner examples
- The law proscribes smoking in hospitals.
- They proscribed the organization because it was violent.
Verb
formal
C2
action
2
declare someone an outlaw
To officially treat someone as an enemy and take away their rights.
Usage pattern:
proscribe [someone]
Common mistake:
In modern news, "proscribe" usually refers to banning groups or activities; this older sense is mainly historical.
Synonyms
outlaw (More general; can mean making a person outside legal protection.)
|
banish (Focuses on forcing someone to leave rather than legal condemnation.)
|
exile (Often implies sending someone away, sometimes officially.)
Antonyms
pardon (To officially forgive and restore legal standing.)
|
reinstate (To restore someone to a former legal or official position.)
Collocations
proscribe political opponents
|proscribe dissidents
|proscribe a rival
|proscribed citizens
|a proscribed senator
|proscribed by the regime
Themes
history
|law
|politics
Examples
- In ancient Rome, political rivals were sometimes proscribed and their property seized.
- After the coup, the new regime proscribed several former ministers.
- The novel follows a proscribed writer forced to live under an assumed name.
Learner examples
- The ruler proscribed his enemies.
Grammar
Dictionary form
proscribe
IPA
GB/pɹoʊskɹˈaɪb/
US/pɹoʊskɹˈaɪb/
Syllables & stress
pro - scribe (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (scribe)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: proscribe
- 3rd Person Singular: proscribes
- Present Participle: proscribing
- Past: proscribed
Word family
Forms
proscribes
verb
proscribing
verb
proscribed
verb
Core family
proscription
noun C1
Related words
Advanced or less common
proscriptive
adjective
Expressions
proscribed by law
1/pɹoʊskɹˈaɪbd bˈaɪ lˈɔ/
fixed phrase
formal
forbidden by law
Not allowed because the law forbids it.
Examples
- Discrimination on the basis of disability is proscribed by law.
- Certain types of political advertising are proscribed by law during election week.
proscribed list
1/pɹoʊskɹˈaɪbd lˈɪst/
fixed phrase
formal
official list of banned items
An official list of things that are banned.
Examples
- The agency added the militia to the proscribed list.
- His name appeared on a proscribed list circulated by the authorities.
proscribed organization
1/pɹoʊskɹˈaɪbd ˌɔɹɡənəzˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
legal
legally banned organization
A group that the government has officially banned.
Examples
- Donations to a proscribed organization are a criminal offense.
- The charity was investigated for links to a proscribed organization.
proscribed substance
1/pɹoʊskɹˈaɪbd sˈʌbstəns/
fixed phrase
formal
officially banned drug or chemical
A drug or chemical that is not allowed.
Examples
- The athlete was suspended after testing positive for a proscribed substance.
- The label warns that the product contains a proscribed substance.