ban

verb

\ ˈban

banned; banning

Definition of ban

(Entry 1 of 3)

1 : to prohibit especially by legal means ban discrimination Is smoking banned in all public buildings? also : to prohibit the use, performance, or distribution of ban a book ban a pesticide

2 : bar sense 3c banned from the U.N.

3 archaic : curse It is a hard fate … to be banned … by the world, only because one has sought to be wiser than the world is.— Edward Bulwer Lytton

intransitive verb

archaic : to utter curses or condemnations The serious world will scold and ban …— Joseph Rodman Drake

ban

noun (1)

Definition of ban (Entry 2 of 3)

1 : legal or formal prohibition a ban on beef exports

2 : censure or condemnation especially through social pressure was under ban for her political views

3 religion : anathema, excommunication under the pope's ban

4 : malediction, curse uttered a ban upon his enemies

5 : the summoning in feudal times of the king's vassals for military service

ban

noun (2)

\ ˈbän

plural bani\ ˈbä-(ˌ)nē

Definition of ban (Entry 3 of 3)

: a monetary subunit of the leu — see leu at Money Table

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Synonyms & Antonyms for ban

Synonyms: Verb

Synonyms: Noun (1)

Antonyms: Verb

Antonyms: Noun (1)

Examples of ban in a Sentence

Verb The school banned that book for many years. The city has banned smoking in all public buildings. The drug was banned a decade ago. The use of cell phones is banned in the restaurant.

History and Etymology for ban

Verb

Middle English bannen to summon, curse, from Old English bannan to summon; akin to Old High German bannan to command, Latin fari to speak, Greek phanai to say, phōnē sound, voice

Noun (1)

Middle English, partly from bannen & partly from Old French ban, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German bannan to command

Noun (2)

Romanian, money, coin, small coin

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Cite this Entry

“Ban.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ban. Accessed 13 Apr. 2021.

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More Definitions for ban

ban

verb

English Language Learners Definition of ban

: to forbid people from using (something) : to say that something cannot be used or done

: to forbid (someone) from doing or being part of something

See the full definition for ban in the English Language Learners Dictionary

ban

verb

\ ˈban

banned; banning

Kids Definition of ban

(Entry 1 of 2)

: to forbid especially by law or social pressure Smoking was banned.

ban

noun

Kids Definition of ban (Entry 2 of 2)

: an official order forbidding something

ban

transitive verb

banned; banning

Legal Definition of ban

(Entry 1 of 2)

: to prohibit or forbid especially by legal means (as by statute or order) ban solicitation also : to prohibit the use, performance, or distribution of legislation to ban DDT

ban

noun

Legal Definition of ban (Entry 2 of 2)

: prohibition especially by statute or order a ban on automatic weapons

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