Definition

The act of officially forbidding something or declaring it illegal.

Example

The proscription of certain books led to a heated debate about freedom of speech.

Conversation

Have you heard about the new proscription on certain activities in the park?

Yeah, I read about it online. It seems a bit strict, right?

I know! It feels like they're imposing too many rules on us.

I agree, but sometimes rules are necessary to keep things safe.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Proscription is formed from "pro-" (meaning before or in front of) and "scriptio" (from "scribere", meaning to write). The term originally referred to the act of writing something down in advance, particularly in the context of listing individuals who were banned or outlawed.

Memory Tip

Think of 'writing down' ('scriptio') names of those who are 'before' ('pro-') the law, which helps you remember that proscription means a formal prohibition or ban.

Visually Confused Words