ban
B1Primarily formal/official; also used in informal contexts for strong disapproval.
Definition
Meaning
to officially or formally forbid something, typically by law or rule.
An official or legal prohibition, or an act of forbidding something; also, in informal contexts, a curse or condemnation.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Often implies authority, legality, or official sanction behind the prohibition. Carries a sense of moral judgment in some contexts (e.g., 'banned substances').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. Both use 'ban' identically as verb/noun. Some specific collocations may differ in frequency (e.g., 'ban from driving' slightly more common in UK).
Connotations
Both share formal, legalistic connotations.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in UK media due to historical bans on specific items (e.g., handguns, fox hunting).
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
ban + object (n.)ban + object (pronoun)ban + object + from + -ingban + object + from + noun phraseVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “lift the ban”
- “under a ban”
- “smoking ban”
- “banned for life”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
The company decided to ban personal mobile phones on the production floor for safety reasons.
Academic
The journal has a strict policy and may ban the submission of plagiarised work.
Everyday
My parents have banned sweets in the house.
Technical
The new regulations will ban the use of certain single-use plastics.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The council has banned dogs from the playground.
- He was banned from driving for twelve months.
- They want to ban smoking in all public parks.
American English
- The city banned plastic bags in all stores.
- The player was banned from the league for doping.
- The school board voted to ban that book from the curriculum.
adverb
British English
- N/A (no standard adverbial form in use).
American English
- N/A (no standard adverbial form in use).
adjective
British English
- Banned substances were found in his luggage.
- It's a banned item on the flight list.
- He was caught with a banned weapon.
American English
- Banned books are sometimes the most interesting to read.
- She tested positive for a banned substance.
- The use of banned pesticides is still a problem.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Smoking is banned here.
- My mum banned TV after 9 pm.
- The sign says dogs are banned.
- The government may ban single-use plastics next year.
- He was banned from the website for rude comments.
- There is a ban on parking in this street.
- The proposed ban on fossil fuel vehicles sparked a heated debate.
- After the scandal, the athlete faced a lifetime ban from competition.
- The law bans employers from discriminating based on age.
- Critics argue that the de facto ban on political assemblies undermines democratic principles.
- The treaty includes a provision to ban the development of such weapons.
- The court upheld the ban, citing compelling public interest.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a red BANner across something, signaling it's forbidden.
Conceptual Metaphor
A barrier or wall preventing access.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Not 'бан' (in Russian, 'бан' means 'steam room/sauna' or 'ban' in online gaming).
- Do not confuse with 'запрещать' (to forbid) – 'ban' is more official and often public.
- The Russian word 'запрет' is a closer match for the noun.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: 'He was banned to enter the club.' Correct: 'He was banned from entering the club.'
- Incorrect: 'The government banned to use plastic.' Correct: 'The government banned the use of plastic.' or 'The government banned using plastic.'
Practice
Quiz
What is the most common grammatical structure after the verb 'ban' when referring to a person's action?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Ban' is often official/legal and public. 'Forbid' is more personal/authoritative (a parent forbids). 'Prohibit' is formal/legal, similar to ban but often found in written rules and regulations.
Yes, e.g., 'a smoking ban', 'to lift a ban'. It's very common.
Almost always 'from' (banned from something/from doing something).
No, it's used in any context where an authority imposes a prohibition, including parents, schools, clubs, websites, and sports bodies.