🚫 A forbidden rule 🙅 Not allowed

tabu

9.9

Forbidden because of religious or social rules

adjective
/təˈbu/

: tabú

The islanders explained that touching the artifact was strictly tabu.

Examples

It was considered tabu for outsiders to enter the sacred grove.
It's tabu here.
In traditional ceremonies, certain foods are tabu for women to eat.
Don't discuss that; it's tabu!
In some cultures, discussing death is a tabu subject that should be avoided.
Touching certain sacred objects is considered tabu in many island communities.
Many people feel that political topics are tabu during family gatherings.

Synonyms

taboo

vstabu

39 5.2

Not allowed by a social or cultural rule

is about prohibition in a specific cultural and religious context rather than general rule

untouchable

vstabu

1 6.4

Too delicate for people to touch

is broader banning both use and touch within a cultural religious setting

tapu

vstabu

9.9

Customs stop people from touching or using it because it is sacred

is viewed as forbidden by custom with emphasis on a South Pacific cultural context

Antonyms

acceptable

477 2.5

Good enough for a particular use or standard

permissible

37 4.1

Allowed by law, rules, or custom

How Forbidden

forbidden

96 3.2

tabu

9.9

sensitive

Texting

43 4.1

acceptable

477 2.5

Surface Forms

tabu positive

Etymology

Tabu comes from the Polynesian word tapu meaning 'forbidden' or 'sacred', often used for places or things people must not touch. That's why we call something tabu when it is not allowed because of a social or religious rule.