taboo

1 of 3

adjective

ta·​boo tə-ˈbü How to pronounce taboo (audio)
ta-
variants or less commonly tabu
1
a
: banned on grounds of morality or taste
the subject is taboo
b
: banned as constituting a risk
the area beyond is taboo, still alive with explosivesRobert Leckie
2
: forbidden to profane use or contact because of what are held to be dangerous supernatural powers

taboo

2 of 3

noun

variants or less commonly tabu
plural taboos also tabus
1
a
: a prohibition imposed by social custom or as a protective measure
… they may have developed a taboo against eating fish.Jared Diamond
b
: something that is not acceptable to say, mention, or do : something that is taboo
… the tacticians in a conservative Republican Administration now deem membership in the club a taboo.Peter J. Boyer
2
: a prohibition against touching, saying, or doing something for fear of immediate harm from a supernatural force
3
: belief in taboos

taboo

3 of 3

verb

variants or less commonly tabu
tabooed also tabued; tabooing also tabuing; taboos also tabus

transitive verb

1
: to set apart as taboo especially by marking with a ritualistic symbol
2
: to avoid or ban as taboo

Examples of taboo in a Sentence

Adjective Sex is a taboo subject for many people. In this company, dating a coworker is considered taboo. Noun religious taboos against drinking alcohol Marrying a close relative is a taboo in many cultures.
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
Tip 4: Talk About Money Breaking away from the traditional view that discussing money is taboo, Tu champions open conversations about finances among friends. Laura Begley Bloom, Forbes, 29 Nov. 2023 Although a wellness sabbatical may be considered taboo in our community, Black women are slowly getting on board with the concept. Dominique Fluker, Essence, 10 Nov. 2023 The film was greeted with enthusiasm by critics in Cannes but caused a scandal when it was released due to a controversial scene dealing with the taboo subject of necrophilia. Lise Pedersen, Variety, 14 Oct. 2023 Even to this day, the sequence of events is taboo to discuss, and in late 2021, a kaibunsho (怪文書), a Japanese word for a scandalous secret document, revealing some details of what happened began to circulate via fax and the internet. Jake Adelstein, Rolling Stone, 17 Oct. 2023 This made religion essentially a taboo topic, Nishida said, and to this day, religious education is not provided at elementary, junior, or high schools in Japan, unlike in most EU member states. Emiko Jozuka, CNN, 14 Oct. 2023 The potential that this synod, and a second session next year, could lead to real change on previously taboo topics has given hope to many women and progressive Catholics. Nicole Winfield and Trisha Thomas, The Christian Science Monitor, 3 Oct. 2023 While some places may have more lenient views towards its use, others might view it as taboo or even offensive. Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 12 Oct. 2023 Generally speaking, while women may feel comfortable talking about their careers, responsibilities, etc., money and finances can still feel taboo. Alicia Adamczyk, Fortune, 9 Oct. 2023
Noun
Speed limits top out at 35 mph, flip-flops grace bare feet, and there's a taboo on high-rise buildings and commercialization. Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 27 Nov. 2023 Known for a lifetime of humanitarian work, former President Jimmy Carter and his late wife Rosalynn Carter’s most lasting gift—certainly for me—may be their decision to help break the taboo in America around death and hospice care. Margaux Anbouba, Vogue, 22 Nov. 2023 Meanwhile, Lin Caster, a member of a diaspora who are forced to live in a walled ghetto, insists on training as a physician despite a taboo on women in medicine, which brings her into Prince Conor’s orbit, too. Charlie Jane Anders, Washington Post, 25 Oct. 2023 FastCompany - Though Gen Z is often labeled lazy due to their push for flexible work, some applaud them for removing workplace taboos for all generations. Paige McGlauflin, Fortune, 7 Nov. 2023 But no one was daring enough to pursue it as a career because at the time it was looked at as taboo. Thania Garcia, Variety, 31 Oct. 2023 The work, part of a makeshift pavilion to worship the Hindu goddess Durga, was designed to break taboos in India about menstruation. Suhasini Raj Atul Loke, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2023 What was once an old style taboo is, clearly, now a fresh color pairing. Christian Allaire, Vogue, 9 Oct. 2023 Once a taboo subject, the issue of royal reform and amendments to lese majeste has seen a turning point since the protests, with people increasingly speaking about the monarchy openly and publicly, despite the legal risks. Helen Regan, CNN, 19 Sep. 2023
Verb
Basically, Pluto rules taboo topics that lie under the surface and that are hard to talk about. Elizabeth Gulino, refinery29.com, 27 Apr. 2021 Simply repurposing her stylish wardrobe, which is normally taboo in Hollywood. Sara M Moniuszko, USA TODAY, 19 Feb. 2020 Create an open dialogue and refuse to let anything be taboo between you two. Annie Lane, oregonlive, 23 Mar. 2020 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'taboo.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Tongan tabu

First Known Use

Adjective

1777, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Noun

1777, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Verb

1777, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of taboo was in 1777

Dictionary Entries Near taboo

Cite this Entry

“Taboo.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/taboo. Accessed 8 Dec. 2023.

Kids Definition

taboo

1 of 2 adjective
ta·​boo
variants also tabu
: prohibited by a taboo

taboo

2 of 2 noun
variants also tabu
plural taboos also tabus
1
: a prohibition against touching, saying, or doing something for fear of immediate harm by a superhuman force
2
: a prohibition established by social custom
Etymology

Adjective

from tabu, a word in a language of the people of a South Sea island, meaning "taboo"

Medical Definition

taboo

1 of 2 noun
ta·​boo
variants also tabu
plural taboos also tabus
1
: a prohibition in some cultures against touching, saying, or doing something for fear of immediate harm from a mysterious superhuman force
2
: a prohibition imposed by social custom or as a protective measure
the view that incest, not cannibalism, was the world's first tabooPhyllis Grosskurth
3
: belief in taboos
taboo adjective
also tabu

taboo

2 of 2 transitive verb
variants also tabu
: to avoid or ban as taboo

More from Merriam-Webster on taboo

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