proscribe

verb pro·scribe \ prō-ˈskrīb \

Definition of proscribe

proscribed; proscribing

transitive verb

1 :to publish the name of as condemned to death with the property of the condemned forfeited to the state

2 :to condemn or forbid as harmful or unlawful :prohibit

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proscriber

noun

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Examples of proscribe in a Sentence

acts that are proscribed by law
regulations proscribe the use of electronic devices on board a plane while it is landing

Recent Examples of proscribe from the Web

Indian rulers proscribed sea voyages back in the 14th century, ostensibly to prevent scientists and mathematicians from decamping to Baghdad.

— chicagotribune.com, "Who will win The Sino-Indian naval war of 2020?," 7 Aug. 2017
It was held under the Chatham House rule, which proscribed attendees from disclosing who said what, but its agenda and attendees list are available online.

— robinson meyer, The Atlantic, "To Stop Global Warming, Should Humanity Dim the Sky?," 7 Aug. 2017
Shouting and chanting slogans are also proscribed after sunset.

— benjamin harvey, Bloomberg.com, "No Protests After Dark in Ankara as Erdogan's Crackdown Deepens," 26 May 2017
Then there’s France, where the government has proscribed a...

— sohrab ahmari, WSJ, "French Censors Target Children With Down Syndrome," 24 May 2017
In a storefront down a side street, a shopkeeper in Arab dress furtively dispensed beer and spirits, normally proscribed pleasures in traditional Muslim communities.

— patrick j. mcdonnell, latimes.com, "Death by stoning: Battered Syrian city offers a window into life under the thumb of ISIS militants," 21 May 2017
Federal labor law proscribes unions that companies fund or effectively control, though the law applies to groups representing employees, not contractors.

— noam scheiber, New York Times, "Uber Has a Union of Sorts, but Faces Doubts on Its Autonomy," 12 May 2017
That was the idea: the government would create proscribed markets.

— adam davidson, The New Yorker, "The G.O.P.’s Health-Care Failure: First Thoughts," 24 Mar. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'proscribe.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Did You Know?

Proscribe and "prescribe" each have a Latin-derived prefix that means "before" attached to the verb "scribe" (from scribere, meaning "to write"). Yet the two words have very distinct, often nearly opposite meanings. Why? In a way, you could say it's the law. In the 15th and 16th centuries both words had legal implications. To "proscribe" was to publish the name of a person who had been condemned, outlawed, or banished. To prescribe meant "to lay down a rule," including legal rules or orders.