taboo

noun
UK: /tæˈbuː/
US: /tæˈbuː/

  1. A social or religious custom prohibiting or restricting a particular practice or association.

    1. Sex before marriage is a taboo in some cultures.
    2. In many societies, certain topics are considered taboo and are rarely discussed openly.

  2. Something that is forbidden or considered unacceptable by a group or culture.

    1. Divorce used to be a taboo, but it is more accepted now.
    2. Mental health issues are less of a taboo subject than they once were, thankfully.

Synonyms

forbidden prohibited unacceptable
taboo transitive-verb

  1. To forbid or restrict something by social custom or authority.

    1. My parents tabooed talking about money at the dinner table.
    2. Some cultures taboo the consumption of certain meats for religious reasons.

  2. To declare something as unacceptable or prohibited within a specific context.

    1. The company tabooed the use of personal devices during work hours.
    2. The community tabooed any construction that would obstruct the scenic view.
taboo adjective

  1. Forbidden, restricted, or considered unacceptable by social custom.

    1. That topic is taboo in polite conversation.
    2. In some cultures, certain animals are considered taboo and cannot be eaten.

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "taboo" in English means: A social or religious custom prohibiting or restricting a particular practice or association., Something that is forbidden or considered unacceptable by a group or culture..

The phonetic transcription of "taboo" is /tæˈbuː/ in British English and /tæˈbuː/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "taboo": forbidden, prohibited, unacceptable.

Example usage of "taboo": "Sex before marriage is a taboo in some cultures.". More examples on the page.