taboo

or ta·bu

[ tuh-boo, ta- ]

adjective

1. proscribed by society as improper or unacceptable:

   Taboo language is usually bleeped on TV.

   Synonyms: forbidden

   Antonyms: permissible, allowed

2. prohibited or excluded from use or practice:

   In art school, painting from photographs was taboo.

3. (among the Polynesians and other peoples of the South Pacific) separated or set apart as sacred; forbidden for general use; placed under a prohibition or ban.

   Synonyms: inviolable, sacrosanct

noun

, plural ta·boos.

1. a prohibition or interdiction of anything; exclusion from use or practice:

   One of the strongest taboos in all modern societies is against incest.

   Synonyms: no-no, interdiction, embargo, proscription, ban

2. (among the Polynesians and other peoples of the South Pacific)
   1. the system, practice, or act whereby things are set apart as sacred, forbidden for general use, or placed under a prohibition or interdiction.
   2. the condition of being so set apart, forbidden, or interdicted.
3. exclusion from social relations; ostracism.

verb (used with object)

, ta·booed, ta·boo·ing.

1. to put under a taboo; prohibit or forbid.

   Synonyms: proscribe, forbid, ban, prohibit

   Antonyms: sanction, permit, allow

2. to ostracize (a person, group, etc.):

   While he is tabooed, no one may speak to him.

taboo

/ təˈbuː /

adjective

1. forbidden or disapproved of; placed under a social prohibition or ban

   taboo words

2. (in Polynesia and other islands of the South Pacific) marked off as simultaneously sacred and forbidden

noun

1. any prohibition resulting from social or other conventions
2. ritual restriction or prohibition, esp of something that is considered holy or unclean

verb

1. tr to place under a taboo

taboo

1. A descriptive term for words, objects, actions, or people that are forbidden by a group or culture . The expression comes from the religion of islanders of the South Pacific.

Word History and Origins

Origin of taboo¹

First recorded in 1770–80; from Tongan tabu “forbidden, prohibited”; the spellings tabu and taboo both appear in Captain James Cook's journal in 1777

Word History and Origins

Origin of taboo¹

C18: from Tongan tapu

Synonym Study

See forbid.

Example Sentences

But in a country where conversation on menstruation still comes with stigma and taboo, menopause awareness is lagging.

From BBC

"Why are sex and relationships such a taboo for disabled people? There is much more to us than just being able to eat and having a roof over our heads."

From BBC

"It's a topic that I feel is still so taboo, so many people shy away from talking about it," Kyran says.

From BBC

Queen Camilla has been a longstanding campaigner against domestic abuse and uses this documentary to say it should not be a taboo subject.

From BBC

The suggestion of anything taboo is candy to the Extremely Online, and styling the Big Lie as such gives power to the groundwork being laid to doubt any wins that don’t favor Republicans, especially Trump.

From Salon

Related Words

• banned
• outlawed
• prohibited
• tabu
• unthinkable