ban

Officially stop an activity or prevent someone from doing something.

• The school bans phones in class.
• He was banned from driving.
• Should we ban plastic bags?

How to use it: ban someone from doing something (They banned him from entering the stadium.); ban someone from something (The player was banned from the tournament.)

Similar words: forbid, prohibit, bar

Opposites: allow, permit

Common phrases: ban something, ban someone from, ban smoking

An official rule that prevents an activity or stops someone from taking part.

• There is a ban on smoking here.
• The court lifted her driving ban.
• They imposed a temporary ban on fishing.

How to use it: ban on something (The city introduced a ban on fireworks.)

Similar words: prohibition

Common phrases: ban on something, lift a ban, impose a ban