Main Entry:

¹em·bar·go

Pronunciation:

\im-ˈbär-(ˌ)gō\

Function:

noun

Inflected Form(s):

plural em·bar·goes

Etymology:

Spanish, from embargar to bar, from Vulgar Latin *imbarricare, from Latin in- + Vulgar Latin *barra bar

Date:

1593

1: an order of a government prohibiting the departure of commercial ships from its ports2: a legal prohibition on commerce <a trade embargo>3: stoppage, impediment ; especially : prohibition <I lay no embargo on anybody's words — Jane Austen>4: an order by a common carrier or public regulatory agency prohibiting or restricting freight transportation