What does forbidden mean?
Forbidden is the adjective of prohibition: it describes anything officially barred by law, rule, or authority, as well as anything society or conscience declares off-limits. A sign reading 'parking forbidden' carries legal weight, while a 'forbidden love' belongs to drama and literature — the same word spans both the courtroom and the heart. It is the past participle of the verb forbid, so it often appears in passive statements like 'smoking is forbidden.' The word carries a strong connotation of transgression; where 'unavailable' is neutral, 'forbidden' implies that someone, somewhere, will punish or disapprove of the act. Its most famous appearance may be in the phrase 'forbidden fruit,' rooted in the biblical story of Eden and echoed in the proverb that forbidden things are desirable precisely because they are denied. From Beijing's Forbidden City to banned books labeled 'forbidden reading,' the term marks boundaries — and invites us to wonder what lies beyond them.
adjectiveNot allowed, permitted, or authorized; banned by an authority, rule, or law. It also describes something socially or morally proscribed.
- Banned or prohibited by an authority, law, or rule.
- Socially or morally proscribed; not acceptable to do, say, or desire.
"Photography is strictly forbidden inside the museum's galleries."
"Smoking is forbidden in all public buildings in the city."
"Their forbidden romance scandalized the small village."
The phrase 'forbidden fruit' traces back to Genesis — and it gave English the proverb that we want most what we're told we can't have.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of forbidden
Forbidden descends from the Old English verb 'forbēodan,' formed from 'for-' (here meaning 'against' or 'away') combined with 'bēodan,' meaning to command or proclaim. That same root 'bēodan' gave English the verb 'bid,' making forbid and bid ancient siblings from one Germanic source, while its distant cousin survives in the verb 'bode.' The past participle 'forboden' became 'forbidden' through Middle English, and the form has served as both a participle and an independent adjective ever since.
How forbidden is actually used
Register-neutral and common in both legal-formal contexts (signs, statutes) and everyday speech. When modifying a noun directly ('a forbidden book'), it functions attributively; as the past participle of 'forbid,' it appears in passive constructions such as 'entry is forbidden.'
Easily confused with forbidden
'Forbidden' means something is banned or not allowed, while 'forbidding' describes something that looks hostile, threatening, or unwelcoming.