What does proscription mean?
Proscription means a formal prohibition or ban, especially one imposed by a government, court, or other authority. It can also describe the act of formally excluding a person or group from a community, organization, or recognized status. The word is more formal and literary than “ban” and often suggests that the restriction is official, deliberate, and backed by authority. In legal and political contexts, proscription may refer to a rule that prohibits particular activities, organizations, or individuals. In social contexts, it can imply that someone is being shunned or subjected to organized exclusion. The term is useful because it distinguishes a clearly declared and often consequential prohibition from a casual or temporary restriction, while retaining the older sense of public condemnation.
nounA formal prohibition or authoritative ban imposed on a person, group, activity, or idea. The term can also refer to exclusion from the protection or recognition of a community or organization.
- A formal prohibition, especially one imposed by law, government, or an official authority.
- The act or condition of excluding someone from a community, organization, or recognized status.
"The council condemned the proscription of peaceful assembly as an abuse of authority."
"The proposed law contained a proscription against anyone who had previously been convicted of fraud."
"Her actions resulted in a quiet social proscription, with former friends refusing to speak to her."
The plural is used for multiple formal prohibitions or instances of exclusion.
"The committee issued several proscriptions against discriminatory practices."
From the Latin for “to write publicly,” proscription began as the public posting of a ban — the written notice was the weapon.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does proscription come from?
The English word comes from Latin proscriptio, a formal notice of prohibition, derived from proscribere, meaning “to write publicly” or “to proscribe.” The underlying element scribere means “to write,” while the prefix pro- contributed the sense of a public or posted notice. The word entered English during the 16th century and initially referred to an official notice naming someone as outlawed or excluded.
Related word forms
How proscription is actually used
Proscription is a formal and somewhat literary term. In modern usage it often suggests an authoritative or legally enforced ban, while its secondary sense can describe social exclusion or denunciation.
Easily confused with proscription
A prescription is something prescribed, especially medicine or advice, whereas a proscription is a prohibition imposed on a person, group, activity, or idea.
Proscribe is the verb meaning to prohibit officially, while proscription is the resulting prohibition or ban.