taboo

American  

[tuh-boo, ta-] / təˈbu, tæ- /

Or tabu

adjective

1. proscribed by society as improper or unacceptable.

   Taboo language is usually bleeped on TV.

   Synonyms:

   forbidden

   Antonyms:

   permissible, allowed

2. prohibited or excluded from use or practice.

   In art school, painting from photographs was taboo.

3. (among the Polynesians and other peoples of the South Pacific) separated or set apart as sacred; forbidden for general use; placed under a prohibition or ban.

   Synonyms:

   inviolable, sacrosanct

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noun

plural

taboos

1. a prohibition or interdiction of anything; exclusion from use or practice.

   One of the strongest taboos in all modern societies is against incest.

   Synonyms:

   no-no, interdiction, embargo, proscription, ban

2. (among the Polynesians and other peoples of the South Pacific)

   1. the system, practice, or act whereby things are set apart as sacred, forbidden for general use, or placed under a prohibition or interdiction.

   2. the condition of being so set apart, forbidden, or interdicted.

3. exclusion from social relations; ostracism.

verb (used with object)

tabooed, tabooing

1. to put under a taboo; prohibit or forbid.

   Synonyms:

   proscribe, forbid, ban, prohibit

   Antonyms:

   sanction, permit, allow

2. to ostracize (a person, group, etc.).

   While he is tabooed, no one may speak to him.

taboo British  

/ təˈbuː /

adjective

1. forbidden or disapproved of; placed under a social prohibition or ban

   taboo words

2. (in Polynesia and other islands of the South Pacific) marked off as simultaneously sacred and forbidden

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noun

1. any prohibition resulting from social or other conventions

2. ritual restriction or prohibition, esp of something that is considered holy or unclean

verb

1. (tr) to place under a taboo

taboo Cultural  

1. A descriptive term for words, objects, actions, or people that are forbidden by a group or culture. The expression comes from the religion of islanders of the South Pacific.

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Usage

What is taboo? Taboo describes an activity or behavior that is considered completely unacceptable or forbidden. A taboo is also the prohibition from engaging in such an activity or behavior through social rules, laws, religious doctrine, and even by your own conscience.Something considered taboo is considered unacceptable by the vast majority of a person’s social group. Often, there is a serious punishment for performing the taboo activity.Many activities that we refer to as crimes are examples of taboos, such as theft, murder, and kidnapping. These activities are considered unacceptable by the government or the law and have strict punishments.Sacred religious writings also outline specific activities as taboo and shouldn’t be done by the religion’s followers. For example, Jewish law considers pork to be taboo, so many Jewish people do not eat pork.Sometimes, taboos are so unacceptable to a society that laws are not needed to forbid people from doing them. Even thinking about them or reading about them can make you feel disgusted, which gives you an idea of how powerful the label of taboo can be.

Related Words

See forbid.

Etymology

Origin of taboo

First recorded in 1770–80; from Tongan tabu “forbidden, prohibited”; the spellings tabu and taboo both appear in Captain James Cook's journal in 1777

Example Sentences

The subject itself was often treated as taboo.

From The Wall Street Journal

While death is taboo in our society, I would argue money is equally, if not more, taboo.

From Salon

A new game called “playing outside” will spread among the children as a taboo form of play—first having to sneak out against their parents’ wishes.

From The Wall Street Journal

The way Pope Leo saw it, powers were seeking to impose dominion through arms and undermining the taboo since World War II on changing borders by force.

From The Wall Street Journal

"People are too embarrassed to talk about issues down below or in their bottoms, it can be embarrassing even taboo, but I want to help break the stigma," Trish said.

From BBC

Related Words

• anathema
• inhibition
• no-no
• prohibition
• stricture
• superstition