I. ban 1 W3 /bæn/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
an official order that prevents something from being used or done
ban on
a total ban on cigarette advertising
a call to lift the ban on homosexuals in the military
⇨ ↑ test ban
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + ban
▪ a complete/total ban
They are seeking a complete ban on nuclear testing.
▪ an outright ban (=a complete ban)
an outright ban on gun ownership
▪ an international/worldwide/global ban
an international ban on trade in endangered species
▪ a blanket ban (=including all possible cases)
They imposed a blanket ban on beef products from Europe.
▪ a lifetime ban
He faces a lifetime ban from athletics.
▪ an export/import ban
The export ban on live cattle was brought in some years ago.
▪ an advertising ban
Is an advertising ban a denial of freedom of speech?
▪ a driving ban British English
He was given a three-year driving ban and a fine.
▪ a chemical weapons ban
a global chemical weapons ban
▪ a constitutional ban
The Republican agenda included a constitutional ban on abortion.
▪ an immediate ban
The group has called for an immediate ban on fur farming.
■ verbs
▪ put/place/impose a ban
The government has imposed an outright ban on fox hunting.
▪ lift a ban
They promised to lift the immigration ban.
▪ call for a ban
French farmers have called for a ban on imports.
▪ enforce a ban (=make sure that it is obeyed)
New measures must be taken to enforce the ban on guns and knives.
▪ face a ban
He faced a four-year ban after failing a drugs test.
II. ban 2 BrE AmE verb ( past tense and past participle banned , present participle banning ) [transitive]
[ Language: Old English ; Origin: bannan 'to command people to come' ]
to say that something must not be done, seen, used etc SYN prohibit OPP allow :
Smoking is banned in the building.
ban somebody from doing something
Charlie’s been banned from driving for a year.
a banned substance/drug (=a drug that people competing in a sport are not allowed to take because it improves their performance)
—banning noun [uncountable] :
the banning of trade unions
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ forbid to tell someone in a very strong way that they must not do something or that something is not allowed:
His doctor had strictly forbidden him to drink alcohol.
|
It is forbidden to say such things.
▪ not allow to say that someone must not do or have something, and stop them doing or having it:
The company does not allow smoking inside the building.
|
Mobile phones are not allowed in school.
▪ not let [not in passive] to not allow someone to do something. Not let is more informal than not allow :
My parents won’t let me stay out later than 11 o'clock.
▪ not permit [usually passive] if something is not permitted, a rule or law says that you must not do it. Not permit is more formal than not allow :
Candidates are not permitted to use dictionaries in this examination.
|
Parking is not permitted here after 8 am.
▪ ban to say officially that people must not do or have something:
Parliament decided to ban fox-hunting.
|
The book was banned in many countries.
▪ prohibit /prəˈhɪbət, prəˈhɪbɪt $ proʊ-/ to say officially that an action is illegal and make a law or rule about this:
Acts of vandalism are prohibited.
▪ bar [usually passive] to not allow someone to enter a place or do something, especially by preventing it officially:
Foreign journalists were barred from entering the country.
▪ proscribe formal to say officially that people are not allowed to do something:
The law proscribes discrimination in the workplace.