verboten

/fərˈboʊtn/

Something verboten is forbidden. It isn't allowed or permitted.

If this word looks and sounds odd, that's because it comes straight to English from German. The concept is simple: anything verboten is forbidden to do or say. Lying in court is verboten. Wearing a hat in church is verboten. Many swear words are verboten to say on TV (or at the dinner table). A verboten act could be illegal or just something frowned upon, like a taboo. Different cultures believe different things are verboten.

Definitions of verboten

1. adjective

   forbidden or prohibited
   synonyms: forbidden, out, prohibited, proscribed, taboo, tabu

   impermissible

   not permitted