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proscription

proscription

3 8.8
An official rule that bans something or someone, usually by law
  • noun
  • /prəˈskrɪpʃən/
  • Formal
translation icon : proscrición
  • The school enforced a strict proscription against bullying to ensure a safe environment for all students.
  • proscription of incest
  • legal proscription
  • religious proscriptions

Examples

  • The morality of duty consists of the basic proscriptions—against murder or theft, for example—required by any governmental authority.

    Academic text (2008)
  • Due to environmental concerns, there is a proscription against dumping waste in the river.

  • The other attack on the proscription of group selection comes from computer simulations.

    Academic text (2002)
  • Over time, however, each was moved by the messages of forgiveness and the proscription against killing in their religious traditions.

    Academic text (2007)
  • Beyond those confines, legal proscription is not the answer.

    Academic text (1996)
  • The Federalists knew that many persons in the country believed that the constitutional proscription against religious tests was a mistake.

    Academic text (1997)
  • As they were experiencing same-sex attractions, they became aware of the religious proscriptions of those feelings.

    Academic text (2007)
  • Throughout our history, social proscriptions have denied gays the same fundamental rights as straights.

    Blog text (34)
  • The network was of the utmost importance because of the Pentecostals' proscription against marrying non-believers and their generally strong sense of community.

    Academic text (2000)
  • The government issued a proscription banning the sale of certain harmful chemicals.

Synonyms

regulation
vsproscription
  • Formal
730 3.4

An official rule made by an authority

is the specific forbidding order rather than a general regulatory rule
sanction
vsproscription
  • Formal
577 6.1

Official punishment or restriction by an authority

is the direct forbidding order rather than a penalty to enforce rules
restriction
vsproscription
340 3.0

A rule or action that limits what you can do

is the stronger act that completely forbids rather than merely limits
bar
vsproscription
  • Formal
335 6.1

An official rule that prevents someone from doing something

is the formal authoritative order that enforces that prevention
ban
vsproscription
293 1.2

An official rule that stops people from doing something

is the authoritative act that creates that prohibition
court order
vsproscription
  • Formal
108 3.5

An official instruction from a court telling someone to do or stop doing something

is the broader authoritative forbidding act beyond purely judicial sources
prohibition
vsproscription
  • Formal
48 4.4

An official rule that stops people from doing something

is the broader authoritative act of banning imposed by power
restraint
vsproscription
44 3.9

A rule or measure that limits what people can do

is the authoritative banning act that fully prohibits rather than restricts
fiat
vsproscription
  • Formal
34 8.5

An official order that a government or person in power gives

is the concrete banning act rather than a broad command from power
edict
vsproscription
  • Formal
27 7.2

An official order from a person or government in power that people must follow

is the specific forbidding order rather than a general public decree
interdiction
vsproscription
  • Formal
12 8.9

An official order by a court or authority that stops someone from doing something

is the general authoritative act of forbidding by law or power
banning
vsproscription
8 3.9

Making something not allowed by law or officials

is the official order that brings about that stopping effect
stricture
vsproscription
8 7.7

A rule that limits what people can do

is the firmer official ban that stops actions entirely rather than limit them
injunction
vsproscription
  • Formal
6 7.7

A clear order that someone in charge gives, like a teacher or parent

is the forbidding order focused specifically on banning acts
cease and desist order
vsproscription
  • Formal
4 7.9

A court order telling someone to stop a certain action

is the general authoritative ban not limited to one activity
debarment
vsproscription
  • Formal
1 7.8

An official ban that stops someone from taking part as a punishment

is the wider forbidding order that can apply to actions or people
banning-order
vsproscription
  • UK
1 8.1

An official order that stops a person or group from doing certain things

is the general authoritative act used to forbid actions or people
disallowance
vsproscription
  • Formal
1 7.2

An official decision not to accept a claim, for example a tax expense

is the authoritative banning act that legally stops that thing
forbiddance
vsproscription
  • Formal
8.3

An official order not to do something

is the concrete authoritative order that creates that forbidden state
ordainment
vsproscription
  • Archaic
9.9

An official rule made by a ruler or council

is the modern authoritative ban issued by current legal powers
prescript
vsproscription
  • Formal
8.9

An official rule that people must follow

is the authoritative act that forbids rather than only guiding behaviour

Antonyms

220 1.0

A sign that someone thinks a person or thing is good

authorization
  • Specialized
14 4.3

How a computer or app decides what a person can do

How Strict

proscription
  • Formal
3 8.8
embargo
  • Formal
150 6.8
ban
293 1.2
prohibition
  • Formal
48 4.4
restriction
340 3.0
limitation
63 3.5

Surface Forms

proscription singular
proscriptions plural

Morphology

proscription = proscribe (transparent) = proscribe + ion

The noun is a regular nominalization of the verb 'proscribe' (the act or result of proscribing), so its meaning follows directly from the base.

Etymology

Proscription comes from the Latin parts pro- 'forth' and scribere 'to write', the same root you see in script. Long ago, leaders would 'write out' names on a public list to ban them, so today a proscription is an official order that forbids or bans someone or something.