interdict

American  

[in-ter-dikt, in-ter-dikt] / ˈɪn tərˌdɪkt, ˌɪn tərˈdɪkt /

noun

1. Civil Law. any prohibitory act or decree of a court or an administrative officer.

2. Roman Catholic Church. 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. Roman Law. a general or special order of the Roman praetor forbidding or commanding an act, especially in cases involving disputed possession.

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verb (used with object)

1. to forbid; prohibit.

2. Ecclesiastical. to cut off authoritatively from certain ecclesiastical functions and privileges.

3. to impede by steady bombardment.

   Constant air attacks interdicted the enemy's advance.

interdict British  

noun

1. RC Church the exclusion of a person or all persons in a particular place from certain sacraments and other benefits, although not from communion

2. civil law any order made by a court or official prohibiting an act

3. Scots law an order having the effect of an injunction

4. Roman history

   1. an order of a praetor commanding or forbidding an act

   2. the procedure by which this order was sought

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verb

1. to place under legal or ecclesiastical sanction; prohibit; forbid

2. military to destroy (an enemy's lines of communication) by firepower

Other Word Forms

• interdictive adjective
• interdictively adverb
• interdictor noun
• uninterdicted adjective

Etymology

Origin of interdict

First recorded in 1250–1300; (noun) from Latin interdictum “prohibition,” noun use of neuter of interdictus, past participle of interdīcere “to forbid,” equivalent to inter- “between, among, together” + -dic- (variant stem of dīcere “to speak”) + -tus past participle suffix; replacing Middle English enterdit, from Old French, from Latin, as above; (verb) from Latin interdictus; replacing Middle English enterditen, from Old French entredire (past participle entredit ), from Latin, as above; see inter-

Explanation

Interdict means to forbid, to nix, to veto. If your parents find out you're planning a party for a time when they're away , they will interdict it. If your principal has interdicted gum-chewing at school, he might set up a few random check points, interdicting gum-chewing students with detentions and a command to instantly spit out their offensive, long-lasting candy. To interdict, pope-style, is to in essence excommunicate, or prohibit a person or especially a place from the functions and privileges of the church.

Example Sentences

By contrast, a blockade allows US warships to loiter safely, far offshore in the waters of the Gulf of Oman, track vessels emerging from Iranian ports and interdict them at will.

From BBC • Apr. 13, 2026

The Coast Guard, which falls under the Department of Homeland Security, has law-enforcement authority to interdict ships in international waters.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 12, 2026

He said U.S. forces would interdict vessels and clear potential mines, while also signaling a readiness to escalate militarily if needed.

From Salon • Apr. 12, 2026

Schiff said the country needs to “get control of the border” with more personnel and technology to interdict people and drugs.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 8, 2024

The threat of an interdict failing to move him, the Pope proceeded to put his threat into execution.

From A Source Book of Medi?val History Documents Illustrative of European Life and Institutions from the German Invasions to the Renaissance by Ogg, Frederic Austin