ban

ban¹ Definition

ban (ban)

transitive verb banned, ban′·ning

to prohibit, as by official order, from doing, using, appearing, happening, etc.; forbid; censor to ban fraternities, to ban a book
Archaic to curse; condemn

Etymology: ME bannen < OE bannan, to summon, proclaim < ban, a command < IE base *bha-, to speak: see phono-

noun

Etymology: ME < the v.; also < OFr ban, decree < OHG bann

ban² Definition

ban (bän)

noun pl. ba′nibä′nē

a monetary unit of Romania, equal to of a leu

Etymology: after ban, title of provincial governors of Slavonia

ban Synonyms

ban Synonyms

forbid, outlaw, prevent, declare illegal; see forbid, halt 2, prevent. See syn. study at forbid.

ban Usage Examples

Object

smoking: I just wish they would ban smoking in there!
hunting: As a result, the National Trust banned deer hunting on its land, and the New Forest Buck Hunt folded.
import: To prevent possible misuses, we have banned soybean grain imports.

Preposition: on

hunting: We will introduce a Government Bill to repeal Labor's ban on hunting.
smoking: The Sunday Mirror reported that the Royal College of Nurses has called for a ban on public smoking by 2008 for health reasons.

Adjective modifier

outright: The MPs voted by 317 to 145 for an outright ban.
partial: However; on the night of the vote I actually felt the argument falling away from the proponents of the partial ban.

Converse of object

impose: Wouldn't it be best to impose a total ban on smoking at work?
overturn: The Law Lords unanimously upheld the Court of Appeal's decision to overturn the ban on the license originally imposed by the High Court.
lift: The judge then lifted a press ban on naming the killers.
enforce: The sightings have raised fears that little is being done to enforce the ban.
defy: Controversial cleric vows to defy mosque ban 18 January 2003 Charity bosses remove Abu Hamza.

Adjective complement

Noun used with modifier

hosepipe: Posted by Ham on 3 April, 2006 at 3:59 PM The hosepipe ban in London is a bit of a farce.
smoking: Talk about the health benefits of the smoking ban.
blanket: With their blanket bans they have given up any tenuous moral right they may have had.
three-match: Bryan Smith and Nana Badu will be able to enjoy their turkey, however, as they begin one and three-match bans respectively.
overtime: In 1998, a dispute over overtime pay let to an overtime ban.
hunting: Field sport campaigners claim Labor MPs pressing for a total hunting ban are acting out of class hatred rather than concern for animals.

Modifies a noun

treaty: When the ban treaty was opened for signature in December 1997, 122 governments signed.

ban Quotes

Ban the Bomb.

—Anonymous

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