C1 verb Formal

proscriber

/prəˈskraɪb/

To officially forbid or prohibit something by law, decree, or social authority. It can also refer to the act of denouncing or condemning a person or group as harmful or dangerous.

Examples

3 of 5
1

The school regulations proscribe any form of bullying or harassment on campus.

The school rules officially forbid any kind of mean behavior or harassment at school.

2

The international treaty seeks to proscribe the use of chemical weapons in warfare.

The global agreement aims to ban the use of chemical weapons during wars.

3

My parents proscribe the use of tablets at the dinner table.

My parents don't allow us to use tablets while we are eating dinner.

Word Family

Noun
proscription
Verb
proscribe
Adverb
proscriptively
Adjective
proscriptive
Related
proscriber
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Memory Tip

Think of the 'o' in proscribe as standing for 'Outlawed' or 'Off-limits'. In contrast, the 'e' in prescribe stands for 'Entry' (like a prescription entering your health plan).

Quick Quiz

The new legislation was designed to ________ the distribution of unlicensed medical products.

Correct!

The correct answer is: proscribe

Examples

1

The school regulations proscribe any form of bullying or harassment on campus.

everyday

The school rules officially forbid any kind of mean behavior or harassment at school.

2

The international treaty seeks to proscribe the use of chemical weapons in warfare.

formal

The global agreement aims to ban the use of chemical weapons during wars.

3

My parents proscribe the use of tablets at the dinner table.

informal

My parents don't allow us to use tablets while we are eating dinner.

4

Critical theorists often proscribe certain biased methodologies that favor dominant social groups.

academic

Academic critics often reject or forbid specific research methods that support powerful groups.

5

Company policy strictly proscribes the sharing of internal passwords with third-party vendors.

business

The company rules forbid giving internal passwords to outside suppliers.

Word Family

Noun
proscription
Verb
proscribe
Adverb
proscriptively
Adjective
proscriptive
Related
proscriber

Common Collocations

proscribe activities To ban specific actions or behaviors.
proscribe a group To officially outlaw a particular organization.
strictly proscribe To forbid something in a very rigorous manner.
proscribe by law To prohibit something using legal statutes.
proscribe conduct To forbid certain types of behavior.

Common Phrases

proscribed list

An official list of banned items or organizations.

proscribed organization

A group that has been declared illegal by the state.

proscribed conduct

Behaviors that are explicitly forbidden by a set of rules.

Often Confused With

proscriber vs prescribe

Prescribe means to recommend or dictate a beneficial action (like a doctor giving medicine), whereas proscribe means to forbid or ban something.

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Usage Notes

Proscribe is a formal word typically found in legal, political, or academic contexts. It implies a high level of authority behind the prohibition.

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Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 'proscribe' with its opposite 'prescribe' because they look and sound similar. Always remember that 'pro-' in this context leads to a prohibition.

💡

Memory Tip

Think of the 'o' in proscribe as standing for 'Outlawed' or 'Off-limits'. In contrast, the 'e' in prescribe stands for 'Entry' (like a prescription entering your health plan).

📖

Word Origin

From the Latin 'proscribere,' which literally means 'to write out publicly.' In ancient Rome, it referred to posting a list of names of people who were declared outlaws.

Grammar Patterns

Transitive verb: proscribe [something] Passive voice common: [Something] is proscribed by law Proscribe someone from [doing something]
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Cultural Context

In many countries, governments maintain a list of 'proscribed groups'—typically organizations linked to terrorism or extremism—making membership in them a criminal offense.

Quick Quiz

The new legislation was designed to ________ the distribution of unlicensed medical products.

Correct!

The correct answer is: proscribe

Related Words

microcredacy

C1

Pertaining to or characterized by the use of micro-credentials or small, specific certifications to demonstrate professional proficiency. It describes educational or career paths that prioritize modular, bite-sized learning over traditional long-term degrees.

enmandsion

C1

A formal noun referring to the process of extending a mandate, physical boundary, or the scope of influence. It often implies a structured or legal enlargement of authority or property rather than just a natural growth.

antegeoty

C1

To conduct a comprehensive geological assessment or survey of a land area before any structural development or human intervention occurs. This process is used to ensure the ground is stable and to record its original state for environmental compliance.

hyperregine

C1

A hyperregine refers to an extremely intensified or rigid system of regulation or management, often used in technical or administrative contexts to describe over-control. It characterizes a state where oversight mechanisms operate at an abnormally high or excessive level, potentially stifling flexibility.

presolvant

C1

A chemical substance or agent applied to a surface or material before the main cleaning or dissolving process to loosen contaminants. It is primarily used in industrial degreasing, dry cleaning, and specialized laboratory procedures to enhance the efficiency of the primary solvent.

monocludible

C1

Describing an object, space, or system that can be closed, blocked, or sealed using a single mechanism or at a solitary point. It is often used in technical, architectural, or logical contexts to denote a singular point of occlusion.

ultraturbtion

C1

To apply extreme, high-frequency agitation or turbulence to a substance, typically in a laboratory or industrial setting. This verb describes the process of disrupting a system's stability to achieve a state of hyper-homogeneity or to trigger a specific reaction.

extrauniable

C1

To extend or adapt a system, credit, or resource so that it functions outside a single university or unit. It is used primarily to describe the process of making institutional assets compatible with broader, multi-organizational frameworks.

antedictive

C1

To state, declare, or indicate a condition or event before it actually occurs; to pre-specify or predict based on prior logic or data. It is typically used in formal, technical, or logical contexts to describe the act of asserting a result in advance of its manifestation.

triruptacy

C1

To divide or fracture a single entity, process, or concept into three distinct and often competing segments. This term is frequently used in technical or legal contexts to describe a deliberate three-way split intended to improve specialization or manage risk.

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