proscribe

play

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

proscriber

noun

See proscribe defined for English-language learners

See proscribe defined for kids

proscribe was our Word of the Day on 01/27/2016. Hear the podcast!

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

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

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.