proscription

1 of 2

noun

pro·​scrip·​tion prō-ˈskrip-shən How to pronounce proscription (audio)
Synonyms of proscriptionnext
1
: the act of proscribing : the state of being proscribed
2
: an imposed restraint or restriction : prohibition
proscriptive adjective
proscriptively adverb

proscriptive

2 of 2

adjective

pro·​scrip·​tive -ptiv How to pronounce proscriptive (audio)
-tēv also -təv
: given to proscribing or serving to proscribe
a proscriptive tribunal
a proscriptive law
proscriptively
-tə̇vlē
adverb
proscriptiveness
-tivnə̇s
noun
plural -es

Examples of proscription in a Sentence

Noun the proscription against bicycles and skateboards is intended to make the plaza a more pedestrian-friendly place a strongly worded proscription against smoking indoors
Recent Examples on the Web
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Noun
The High Court judges said that while some of those crimes amounted to terrorist acts, they could be criminally prosecuted regardless of proscription. ABC News, 15 June 2026 The case comes amid Britain’s controversial terror ban on Palestine Action, mass arrests of supporters, a pending court challenge to the proscription and warnings from Amnesty of a dangerous crackdown on protest. Brian Melley, Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2026 Elsewhere on the trophy, there are the original rules to soccer, from 1863, which include a proscription on players having nails, iron plates, or gutta-percha—a Malaysian rubberlike material, now used in root canals—protruding from their boots. Sam Knight, New Yorker, 1 June 2026 Of course, deportation or removal from the United States isn’t the same as death; Rubio’s unilateral visa revocation isn’t the same as the proscription. JSTOR Daily, 23 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for proscription

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English proscripcion, from Latin proscription-, proscriptio, from proscribere

Adjective

Latin proscriptus (past participle of proscribere) + English -ive

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of proscription was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Proscription.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/proscription. Accessed 25 Jun. 2026.

Kids Definition

proscription

noun
pro·​scrip·​tion prō-ˈskrip-shən How to pronounce proscription (audio)
1
: the act of proscribing : the state of being proscribed
2

Legal Definition

proscription

noun
pro·​scrip·​tion prō-ˈskrip-shən How to pronounce proscription (audio)
1
: the act of proscribing : the state of being proscribed
2
: an imposed restraint or restriction
proscriptive adjective
proscriptively adverb

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