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
nounIndulge Your Inner Word Nerd
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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
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Shouting and chanting slogans are also proscribed after sunset.
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Then there’s France, where the government has proscribed a...
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In a storefront down a side street, a shopkeeper in Arab dress furtively dispensed beer and spirits, normally proscribed pleasures in traditional Muslim communities.
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Federal labor law proscribes unions that companies fund or effectively control, though the law applies to groups representing employees, not contractors.
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That was the idea: the government would create proscribed markets.
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.
Origin and Etymology of proscribe
Latin proscribere to publish, proscribe, from pro- before + scribere to write — more at scribe
Other Legal Terms
PROSCRIBE Defined for English Language Learners
proscribe
playDefinition of proscribe for English Language Learners
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: to make (something) illegal : to not allow (something)
Law Dictionary
proscribe
playLegal Definition of proscribe
proscribed
proscribing
: to condemn or forbid as harmful or unlawful
Origin and Etymology of proscribe
Latin proscribere to publish, proscribe, from pro- before + scribere to write
Learn More about proscribe
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See words that rhyme with proscribe Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for proscribe Spanish Central: Translation of proscribe Nglish: Translation of proscribe for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of proscribe for Arabic speakers
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