verboten

[ ver-boht-n; German fer-boht-n ]

/ vərˈboʊt n; German fɛrˈboʊt n /

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adjective

forbidden, as by law; prohibited.

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of verboten

First recorded in 1910–15; from German: past participle of verbieten “to prohibit, forbid”; see forbid

Words nearby verboten

verbify, verbigeration, verbing, verbose, verbosity, verboten, verb phrase, verb. sap., verbum sap, Vercelli, Vercelli Book

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

How to use verboten in a sentence

The concept evolved during the darkest days of the pandemic when live performance was verboten.
GALA dance-theater piece tackles immigration|Patrick Folliard|March 25, 2022|Washington Blade
The same thing has happened in food media, where thin cooks and chefs embrace fat and carbohydrates in ways that would have been verboten a decade or two ago.
Fast-Food Fashion Is Everywhere — Except on Fat People|Victoria Edel|December 20, 2021|Eater
Relationships with customers are “pretty verboten, but I did come close one time.”
Is Glenn Shephard, the ‘Below Deck Sailing Yacht’ Captain, the Nicest Guy on Reality TV?|Tim Teeman|May 14, 2021|The Daily Beast
Choke collars, shock collars, even the word no are all-but-verboten.
How Science is Revolutionizing the World of Dog Training|Winston Ross|August 25, 2020|Time

He shows us the hypocrisy where in some contexts these very words are socially acceptable and at other times they are verboten.
Why George Carlin Deserves His Own Street|Kevin Bartini|October 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
For the right-wing base and its institutional supporters, concessions are verboten.
Tea Party Republicans: The Biggest Sore Winners in Washington|Jamelle Bouie|December 12, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Now, none of them spells out the verboten words anywhere that I can see.
Dear Editors: Ban ‘Redskins’|Michael Tomasky|June 21, 2013|DAILY BEAST
But Hasan grew a beard sometime after his arrest on Nov. 5, 2009, and in the U.S. military, beards are mostly verboten.
The Beard Alleged Fort Hood Killer Nidal Hasan Wouldn’t Shave|Winston Ross|December 5, 2012|DAILY BEAST
In all that time, probably the only thing we have agreed upon is this: sleeping with patients is verboten.
Scott DesJarlais Crossed the Line by Having Sex With Patients|Kent Sepkowitz|November 29, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Else the earth will be ruled by the German bayonet and natural living will be verboten.
The Life and Letters of Walter H. Page, Volume II|Burton J. Hendrick
Opposite us the Aire was dammed to form a pool, alongside which was a sign, “Schwimmung verboten”.
Battery E in France|Frederic R. Kilner
It is verboten even to think of a white shirt until the Bosch hangs out the tail of his.
Foe-Farrell|Arthur Thomas Quiller-Couch
You will be quite safe in assuming that anything you yearn for just now ist strengstens polizeilich verboten.
Punch, or the London Charivari, Vol. 147, October 14, 1914|Various
It is verboten to employ a man until he is old and then to throw him out and give his place to a younger man.
Germany in War Time|Mary Ethel McAuley

British Dictionary definitions for verboten

verboten

/ German (fɛrˈboːtən) /

adjective

forbidden; prohibited

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

verboten

Origin of verboten

Words nearby verboten

Words related to verboten

How to use verboten in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for verboten