proscription

UK: /prəʊˈskrɪpʃ^ən/ US: /proʊˈskrɪpʃən/ ,(prō skrip′shən)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

pro•scrip•tion  (prō skrip′shən), n. 

1. the act of proscribing.
2. the state of being proscribed.
3. outlawry, interdiction, or prohibition.

• Latin prōscrīptiōn- (stem of prōscrīptiō) public notice of confiscation or outlawry, equivalent. to prōscrīpt(us) (past participle of prōscrībere to proscribe) + -iōn- -ion
• 1350–1400; Middle English proscripcioun

pro•scrip•tive  (prō skrip′tiv), adj.  pro•scrip′tive•ly, adv. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

proscription / prəʊˈskrɪpʃən/ noun

1. the act of proscribing or the state of being proscribed
2. denunciation, prohibition, or exclusion
3. outlawry or ostracism

Etymology: 14th Century: from Latin prōscriptiō; see proscribe

proˈscriptive adjective

proˈscriptively adverb

proˈscriptiveness noun

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

pro•scribe /proʊˈskraɪb/   v. [~ + object] , -scribed, -scrib•ing. 

1. to condemn (a thing) as harmful or illegal; prohibit;
   forbid:
   proscribing the use of firearms.

pro•scrip•tion /proʊˈskrɪpʃən/  n. [uncountable] See -scrib-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

pro•scribe  (prō skrīb′), v.t., -scribed, -scrib•ing. 

1. to denounce or condemn (a thing) as dangerous or harmful;
   prohibit.
2. to put outside the protection of the law;
   outlaw.
3. to banish or exile.
4. to announce the name of (a person) as condemned to death and subject to confiscation of property.

• Latin prōscrībere to publish in writing, confiscate, outlaw. See pro-¹, prescribe
• late Middle English 1375–1425

pro•scrib′a•ble, adj. 
pro•scrib′er, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. censure, disapprove, repudiate.