interdict

1 of 2

noun

in·​ter·​dict ˈin-tər-ˌdikt 

1

: a Roman Catholic ecclesiastical censure withdrawing most sacraments and Christian burial from a person or district

2

: a prohibitory decree

interdict

2 of 2

verb

in·​ter·​dict ˌin-tər-ˈdikt 

interdicted; interdicting; interdicts

transitive verb

1

: to lay under or prohibit by an interdict

2

: to forbid in a usually formal or authoritative manner

3

a

: to destroy, damage, or cut off (something, such as an enemy line of supply) by firepower to stop or hamper an enemy

b

: intercept sense 1a

interdict drug shipments

interdiction

ˌin-tər-ˈdik-shən 

noun

interdictive

ˌin-tər-ˈdik-tiv 

adjective

interdictor

ˌin-tər-ˈdik-tər 

noun

interdictory

ˌin-tər-ˈdik-t(ə-)rē 

adjective

Did you know?

Interdict and interdiction are used for very serious prohibitions—more serious than, say, a professor telling the class that texting is forbidden during lectures. During the Middle Ages and Renaissance, an interdict was a sentence imposed by the powerful Catholic Church forbidding a person or place, and sometimes even an entire country, from receiving church privileges or participating in church functions. Interdict now often means "cut off" in a physically forceful way as well; interdictions are usually targeted at either arms supplies or illegal drug shipments.

Synonyms

Noun

• prohibition
• ban

Verb

• prohibit
• forbid
• ban
• outlaw

Choose the Right Synonym for interdict

forbid, prohibit, interdict, inhibit mean to debar one from doing something or to order that something not be done.

forbid implies that the order is from one in authority and that obedience is expected.

smoking is forbidden in the building

prohibit suggests the issuing of laws, statutes, or regulations.

prohibited the sale of liquor

interdict implies prohibition by civil or ecclesiastical authority usually for a given time or a declared purpose.

practices interdicted by the church

inhibit implies restraints or restrictions that amount to prohibitions, not only by authority but also by the exigencies of the time or situation.

conditions inhibiting the growth of free trade

Examples of interdict in a Sentence

Noun

the church's controversial interdict against the use of birth control devices

Verb

the state legislature moved to interdict the use of radar-detection devices by motorists

federal agents are able to interdict only a small percentage of the narcotic shipments into the country

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

There are no restraining orders, injunctions or interdicts anywhere. —Brendan Le, Peoplemag, 9 May 2024

Environmental and community groups in South Africa's Eastern Cape province won an urgent interdict to stop the surveys in December last year and are now asking the court to permanently halt the operations. —Mogomotsi Magome, ajc, 2 June 2022

Verb

As they are moved, say by ship, that radiation could in theory be detected if ships neared certain ports, and other nations might interdict North Korean vessels that are suspected of transporting nuclear weaponry. —Tom Rogers, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 July 2025

Last Monday, a crew aboard a Coast Guard boat that is part of the Maritime Safety and Security Team in Los Angeles/Long Beach interdicted five people aboard a 20-foot pleasure craft, approximately 4 miles southwest of Point Loma. —Philip Diehl, Mercury News, 16 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, alteration of entredite, from Anglo-French, from Latin interdictum prohibition, from neuter of interdictus, past participle of interdicere to interpose, forbid, from inter- + dicere to say — more at diction

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for interdict

• contradict
• derelict
• addict
• afflict
• constrict
• delict
• depict
• evict
• handpicked
• inflict
• predict
• relict

Kids Definition

interdict

1 of 2 noun

in·​ter·​dict ˈint-ər-ˌdikt 

1

: a Roman Catholic ecclesiastical withdrawal of sacraments and Christian burial from a person or district

2

: prohibition sense 2

interdict

2 of 2 verb

in·​ter·​dict ˌint-ər-ˈdikt 

: to prohibit or forbid especially by an interdict

interdiction

-ˈdik-shən 

noun

Medical Definition

interdict

noun

in·​ter·​dict ˈint-ər-ˌdikt 

civil law

: one who has been determined to be incompetent to care for his or her own person or affairs (as by reason of mental incapacity)

Legal Definition

interdict

1 of 2 noun

in·​ter·​dict ˈin-tər-ˌdikt 

1

: something that prohibits

2

: one that has been interdicted compare ward

interdict

2 of 2 transitive verb

in·​ter·​dict ˌin-tər-ˈdikt 

1

in the civil law of Louisiana : to deprive (a person) of the right to care for one's own person or affairs because of mental incapacity compare commit, curator, tutor

2

: to authoritatively prohibit or bar (an act or conduct)

3

: to intercept or cut off (as a drug shipment) by force