ban

First recorded before 1000; Middle English bannen, Old English bannan “to summon, proclaim”; cognate with Old Norse banna to curse (probably influencing some senses of Middle English word), Old High German bannan; akin to Latin fārī “to speak,” Sanskrit bhanati “(he) speaks”

OTHER WORDS FROM ban

ban·na·ble, adjectiveun·banned, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH ban

banns, bans

Words nearby ban

bamboo turning, bamboo ware, bamboozle, bamboozled, B.A.Mus.Ed., ban, Banaba, Banaban, Banach space, banak, banal

Other definitions for ban (2 of 4)

ban²

[ ban ]

/ bæn /

noun

a public proclamation or edict.

bans, Ecclesiastical. banns.

(in the feudal system)

the summoning of the sovereign's vassals for military service.
the body of vassals summoned.

Origin of ban

First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English, ban, ban(n)e, iban “a lord's proclamation or edict or summons,” Old English (ge)ban(n) “proclamation, ordinance, summons to arms” (derivative of bannan ); influenced in some senses by Old French ban (Anglicized as ban ), from the same Germanic source; see ban¹

Other definitions for ban (3 of 4)

ban³

[ ban, bahn ]

/ bæn, bɑn /

noun

(formerly) the governor of Croatia and Slavonia.

History/Historical. a provincial governor of the southern marches of Hungary.

Origin of ban

First recorded in 1605–15; from Serbo-Croatian bân, contracted from unattested bojan, bajan, said to be from a Turkic personal name, perhaps introduced into the Balkans by the Avars; compare Medieval Greek bo(e)ános “governor”

Other definitions for ban (4 of 4)

ban⁴

[ bahn ]

/ bɑn /

noun, plural ba·ni

[bah-nee]. /ˈbɑ ni/.

a Romanian coin, one 100th of a leu.

Origin of ban

⁴

First recorded in 1960–65; from Romanian, of uncertain origin, perhaps from Serbo-Croatian bân “provincial governor”; see origin at ban³

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

MORE ABOUT BAN

What does ban mean?

To ban is to forbid or prohibit something or someone, as in Fatima banned her children from using screens after 9 pm so they wouldn’ stay up all night playing video games.

A ban is a law or rule that prohibits, or bans, something, as in The winter parking ban starts on December 1.

A ban can also be an informal prohibition, such as by public opinion.

Example: We had to ban the use of power tools for school projects after an unfortunate incident in shop class.

Where does ban come from?

The first records of the term ban come from before the year 1,000. It ultimately comes from the Old English bannan, meaning “to summon or proclaim.” It also has influences from the Old Norse banna, meaning “to curse,” which reflects the modern use of ban more closely.

Usually, ban describes something that is officially prohibited. This can be on multiple levels, such as a ban on nuclear weapons by world powers, a person being banned from a restaurant for poor behavior, a person being temporarily banned from an online service, or even banning certain items or words from large services or smaller establishments.

In religion, as with Christianity, a ban is the removal of someone from the faith (excommunication) on the grounds of religious laws.

Did you know … ?

What are some other forms related to ban?

bannable (adjective)
banning (noun, verb)
unbanned (adjective, verb)

What are some synonyms for ban?

What are some words that often get used in discussing ban?

What are some words ban may be commonly confused with?

banns

How is ban used in real life?

Ban is commonly used to discuss both administrative and more casual prohibitions.

Austria bans the unvaccinated from restaurants as COVID-19 cases surge https://t.co/GWuPQVrlHH pic.twitter.com/tEneRi8nuw

— Reuters (@Reuters) November 6, 2021

BREAKING: Homeland Security intelligence report disputes threat posed by citizens of 7 nations in Trump travel ban.

— The Associated Press (@AP) February 24, 2017

i tripped. going up. the stairs today. fell snoot first. it wasn’t pleasant. my solution.. ban. every stair

— Thoughts of Dog® (@dog_feelings) October 19, 2017

Try using ban!

Which of the following is NOT a synonym for ban?

A. embargo
B. prohibit
C. refuse
D. approve

How to use ban in a sentence

To do so, governments need to boost the adoption of electric vehicles through clear tax incentives, diesel and petrol engine bans, and major infrastructure investments.
Use today’s tech solutions to meet the climate crisis and do it profitably|Walter Thompson|February 12, 2021|TechCrunch
If such a ban is not possible, steps should be taken to improve air circulation, the study said.
Airports have taken steps to reduce coronavirus transmission but risks still remain, study says|Lori Aratani|February 12, 2021|Washington Post
The ban will apply to plastics that are designed to be used once and then discarded — water bottles, cutlery, candy wrappers and bags — that clog local waterways and overwhelm landfills, LeBlanc said.
George Washington University commits to single-use-plastic ban|Lauren Lumpkin|February 11, 2021|Washington Post
Iowa’s House speaker said he can’t make lawmakers wear masks — but he did enforce a ban on jeansRep.
The governor of Iowa lifted coronavirus restrictions. These cities are keeping them anyway.|Paulina Villegas|February 8, 2021|Washington Post

To get the space off right, Smith set up the pop-up in a matter of days, installing everything from the electric lines to blow-up snowmen to ensure the igloos would be ready for the deep winter chill and the temporary complete ban on indoor dining.
Shaw’s HalfSmoke is so cool, it’s hot|Evan Caplan|February 5, 2021|Washington Blade
If the Israel model ban were directed towards disordered eating, Ravin says she would support it whole-heartedly.
How Skinny Is Too Skinny? Israel Bans ‘Underweight’ Models|Carrie Arnold|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
But in 1969, a longstanding practice was challenged—its ban on women.
The Bars That Made America Great|Nina Strochlic|December 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A ban on the ringing of church bells, lifted in 1941, was reimposed.
Remembering the Russian Priest Who Fought the Orthodox Church|Cathy Young|December 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Aside from a blanket ban, social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and Reddit are nearly impossible to control.
China’s Internet Is Freer Than You Think|Brendon Hong|December 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Or are the risks so great that a temporary ban is necessary?
New York’s Conservative Fracking Ban|Jay Michaelson|December 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
We no longer live in an age when down-trodden laborers meet by candlelight with the ban of the law upon their meeting.
The Unsolved Riddle of Social Justice|Stephen Leacock
Weary of their ungodliness the Church placed its ban upon them under this ban it seems they die.
St. Martin's Summer|Rafael Sabatini
Even when Christianity fell under the ban of persecution that freedom of sepulture was not at first interfered with.
The Catacombs of Rome|William Henry Withrow
For ten years Matthew and Mary lived happily together, or would have been happy if it had not been for the ban of the church.
Bell's Cathedrals: A Short Account of Romsey Abbey|Thomas Perkins
"Aye ban tank we joost get it nice quiet van you come back again," Anderson remarked in mock melancholy.
The Argus Pheasant|John Charles Beecham

British Dictionary definitions for ban (1 of 3)

ban¹

/ (bæn) /

verb bans, banning or banned

(tr) to prohibit, esp officially, from action, display, entrance, sale, etc; forbidto ban a book; to ban smoking

(tr) (formerly in South Africa) to place (a person suspected of illegal political activity) under a government order restricting his movement and his contact with other people

archaic to curse

noun

an official prohibition or interdiction

law an official proclamation or public notice, esp of prohibition

a public proclamation or edict, esp of outlawry

archaic public censure or condemnation

archaic a curse; imprecation

Word Origin for ban

Old English bannan to proclaim; compare Old Norse banna to forbid, Old High German bannan to command

British Dictionary definitions for ban (2 of 3)

ban²

/ (bæn) /

noun

(in feudal England) the summoning of vassals to perform their military obligations

Word Origin for ban

C13: from Old French ban, of Germanic origin; related to Old High German ban command, Old Norse bann ban 1

British Dictionary definitions for ban (3 of 3)

ban³

/ (bæn) /

noun plural bani (ˈbɑːnɪ)

a monetary unit of Romania and Moldova worth one hundredth of a leu

Word Origin for ban

from Romanian, from Serbo-Croat bān lord

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

ban

OTHER WORDS FOR ban

OPPOSITES FOR ban

Origin of ban

OTHER WORDS FROM ban

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH ban

Words nearby ban

Other definitions for ban (2 of 4)

Origin of ban

Other definitions for ban (3 of 4)

Origin of ban

Other definitions for ban (4 of 4)

Origin of ban

MORE ABOUT BAN

What does ban mean?

Where does ban come from?

Did you know … ?

How is ban used in real life?

Try using ban!

Words related to ban

How to use ban in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for ban (1 of 3)

Word Origin for ban

British Dictionary definitions for ban (2 of 3)

Word Origin for ban

British Dictionary definitions for ban (3 of 3)

Word Origin for ban