ban

ban — verb

1. to officially say that an activity, product, or other thing must not be used, do

1.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to officially say that an activity, product, or other thing must not be used, done, sold, or shown

Example

The school banned energy drinks from the sports festival this year.

ban something from an event

After two fires, the city banned outdoor burning near the forest.

ban + activity

Common collocations
  • ban outdoor burning
  • ban plastic bags
  • ban a product
  • ban something from sale
  • ban something from an event
Synonyms
  • forbid

    common and direct; often used for rules or personal orders

  • prohibit

    more formal and common in laws, notices, and official writing

  • outlaw

    specifically means making something illegal by law

Antonyms
  • allow

    the broad everyday opposite

  • permit

    more formal and often used in signs or rules

Grammar Patterns

ban something

ban something from something

Usage Note

The object is usually a thing, action, product, or form of content rather than a person. Subjects are often governments, schools, websites, courts, or other bodies with authority. Distinguish from sense 2, where the person is barred from a place or activity.

Common Mistakes

The city banned people to smoke in the park.
The city banned smoking in the park.' / 'The city banned people from smoking in the park.
after ban, use a noun or -ing form, or ban somebody from doing something; not a bare to-infinitive.

2. to officially stop a person from entering a place or taking part in an activity

2.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to officially stop a person from entering a place or taking part in an activity

Example

Mateo was banned from the pool after pushing another swimmer.

be banned from + place

Two riders were banned from the race after failing the drug test.

sports use: be banned from a race

Common collocations
  • banned from the stadium
  • banned from driving
  • banned from school
  • banned from the platform
  • temporarily banned
Synonyms
  • bar

    very close in meaning, especially for stopping entry or participation

  • exclude

    can be less official and often stresses being left out

  • suspend

    often temporary and common in schools, clubs, or sports

Antonyms
  • admit

    allows someone to enter a place or institution

  • let back

    informal and used when someone is allowed to return

Grammar Patterns

be banned from something

be banned from doing something

be banned

Usage Note

Frequently passive, with from introducing the place or activity. This sense focuses on the person who loses access or permission. Distinguish from sense 1, where the object is the thing being officially prohibited.

Common Mistakes

He was banned to enter the stadium.
He was banned from entering the stadium.' / 'He was banned from the stadium.
use from, not a to-infinitive, after be banned.

ban — noun

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

For sense 1, ban is a strong, practical word for officially stopping something from being done, sold, shown, or used. Forbid is common and direct, and it can be official or personal: a parent can forbid a child to go out, while a city can ban fireworks. Prohibit is more formal and often appears in laws, notices, and policy writing. Bar is closest to sense 2, because it often focuses on keeping a person out of a place or activity. Outlaw is narrower than ban: it means making something illegal by law, not simply blocked by a school, website, or club. A city may ban scooters from parks, but only a law can outlaw them everywhere.

ban ↗forbid ↗prohibit ↗bar ↗outlaw ↗

Common collocations

Adverbs

Phrases

  • ban something
  • be banned from something
  • be banned from doing something

Prepositions

Etymology

Germanic rootOld FrenchMiddle EnglishEnglish

Ban came into English through Old French ban, a word for an official proclamation, command, or public summons. That French form goes back to a Germanic root linked with calling out or announcing orders. In English, the idea narrowed from a public order in general to the specific modern sense of an order that stops something or someone.