proscription

American  

[proh-skrip-shuhn] / proʊˈskrɪp ʃən /

noun

1. the act of proscribing.

2. the state of being proscribed.

3. the act of making something unlawful or illegal; interdiction or prohibition.

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proscription British  

/ prəʊˈskrɪpʃən /

noun

1. the act of proscribing or the state of being proscribed

2. denunciation, prohibition, or exclusion

3. outlawry or ostracism

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Other Word Forms

• nonproscription noun
• proscriptive adjective
• proscriptively adverb
• proscriptiveness noun

Etymology

Origin of proscription

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

Explanation

Condemning something or banishing someone is proscription. For safety reasons, there's a proscription against carrying fireworks with you on an airplane. You'll have to leave those bottle rockets at home. The term proscription was first used in ancient Rome for official banishment and other government-sanctioned punishments. The word comes from the Latin proscribere, "publish in writing," and historically proscriptions involved publishing the names of people considered enemies of the state. You can also use the word for things like your grandpa's proscription against candy or your school's proscription against wearing pajamas to class.

Example Sentences

His written submissions to the court added: "The suffragettes would have been liable to proscription if the Terrorism Act 2000 regime had been in force at the turn of the 20th century."

From BBC • Nov. 26, 2025

While the judge began setting provisional trial dates for March, there is no certainty they can take place before the end of 2026 because of the ongoing legal battle over the group's proscription.

From BBC • Oct. 15, 2025

The High Court ruled on 30 July that proscription of the group, which has carried out break-ins at defence firms linked to Israel as part of direct action protests, should be reviewed.

From BBC • Aug. 7, 2025

In a major decision, the High Court ruled that the proscription of the group, that has carried out break-ins at defence firms linked to Israel as part of direct action protests, should be reviewed.

From BBC • Jul. 30, 2025

It must not be supposed that, outside the capital, the proscription of the actor was general.

From Queens of the French Stage by Williams, H. Noel