/ bæn; NAmE / verb , noun
■ verb ( -nn- ) [ vn ]
1.
to decide or say officially that sth is not allowed
SYN prohibit :
Chemical weapons are banned internationally.
2.
[ usually passive ] ban sb from sth / from doing sth to order sb not to do sth, go somewhere, etc., especially officially :
He was banned from the meeting.
She's been banned from leaving Greece while the allegations are investigated.
( BrE )
He was banned from driving for six months.
■ noun
ban (on sth) an official rule that says that sth is not allowed :
There is to be a total ban on smoking in the office.
to impose / lift a ban
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WORD ORIGIN
Old English bannan summon by a public proclamation , of Germanic origin, reinforced by Old Norse banna curse, prohibit; the noun is partly from Old French ban proclamation, summons, banishment.