interdiction

UK: /ˌɪntəˈdɪkʃən/ US: (in′tər dik′shən)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

in•ter•dic•tion  (in′tər dik′shən), n. 

1. an act or instance of interdicting.
2. the state of being interdicted.
3. an interdict.
4. steady bombardment of enemy positions and communications lines for the purpose of delaying and disorganizing progress.

• Latin interdictiōn- (stem of interdictiō). See interdict, -ion
• 1485–95

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

interdiction / ˌɪntəˈdɪkʃən/ noun

1. the act of interdicting or state of being interdicted
2. an interdict

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

in•ter•dict /n. ˈɪntɚˌdɪkt; v. ˌɪntɚˈdɪkt/   n. [countable]

1. Law any act or decree that prohibits:
   an interdict by the church officials.

v. [~ + object]

2. to forbid or cut off by decree:
   The country was interdicted.
3. Military to cut off or reduce the flow of (troops, etc.) or hinder the use of (a road, etc.) by ground fire or bombing.

in•ter•dic•tion, n. [uncountable] See -dict-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

in•ter•dict  (n. in′tər dikt′;v. in′tər dikt′), n. 

1. Law [Civil Law.] any prohibitory act or decree of a court or an administrative officer.
2. Religion [Rom. Cath. Ch.] a punishment by which the faithful, remaining in communion with the church, are forbidden certain sacraments and prohibited from participation in certain sacred acts.
3. Law, Ancient History [Roman Law.] a general or special order of the Roman praetor forbidding or commanding an act, esp. in cases involving disputed possession.

v.t. 

4. to forbid;
   prohibit.
5. Religion [Eccles.] to cut off authoritatively from certain ecclesiastical functions and privileges.
6. to impede by steady bombardment:
   Constant air attacks interdicted the enemy's advance.

• Latin, as above
• Old French entredire (past participle entredit)
• Latin interdictus; replacing Middle English enterditen
• Latin, as above; (verb, verbal)
• Old French
• Latin interdictum prohibition, noun, nominal use of neuter of interdictus past participle of interdīcere to forbid, equivalent. to inter- inter- + -dic- (variant stem of dīcere to speak) + -tus past participle suffix; replacing Middle English enterdit
• (noun, nominal) 1250–1300

in′ter•dic′tor, n.