proscribe

verb pro·scribe \ prō-ˈskrīb \

Updated on: 21 Apr 2018

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

For Fox News, a network who before President Donald Trump’s election had neatly proscribed boundaries within which to operate, making waves is nothing new.

— daniel d'addario, Time, "How Sean Hannity’s Relationship With Michael Cohen Reveals Fox News’ Vulnerability," 17 Apr. 2018
Such bullets, which can cause wider wound channels, are proscribed in most military use.

— New York Times, "Wounds From Military-Style Rifles? ‘A Ghastly Thing to See’," 4 Mar. 2018
The law prohibits the sale of junk food like ice cream, chocolate and potato chips in Chilean schools and proscribes such products from being advertised during television programs or on websites aimed at young audiences.

— andrew jacobs, New York Times, "In Sweeping War on Obesity, Chile Slays Tony the Tiger," 7 Feb. 2018
Seventy-one groups, a mixture of national and international organizations including the Islamic State and al-Qaeda, appear on the list, but National Action was the first right-wing organization to be proscribed.

— kim hjelmgaard, USA TODAY, "British neo-Nazis serving in military detained," 5 Sep. 2017
The outcome of that case could permanently alter American politics by proscribing either party from using political gerrymanders to seize and maintain a legislative monopoly.

— mark joseph stern, Slate Magazine, "Clarence Thomas Joins Liberals, Shocks World," 22 May 2017
There is an exception: A section of the money-laundering statute (section 1956(a)(2)) proscribes international transportations of any money (i.e., not necessarily the proceeds of crime) with the intent of avoiding transaction-reporting requirements.

— andrew c. mccarthy, National Review, "More Thoughts on the Manafort Indictment," 1 Nov. 2017
The freedmen may have gained the right to vote (one that would be proscribed in the years to come in the South by post-Reconstruction laws establishing poll taxes, literacy tests and other measures).

— The Root, "Tracing Your Roots: What Did Freedom Bring for My Ancestor?," 29 Sep. 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.