DictionaryoutlawLegal prohibition
verb

outlaw

To make illegal.

The new law outlaws dumping waste near the river.

Etymology

An outlaw originally stood outside the law’s protection. The verb developed the related sense of placing an activity outside what the law permits.

More examples

  • The city outlawed the practice last year.
  • They are campaigning to outlaw the harmful method.
  • Several activities had already been outlawed.

Forms

outlaw · outlaws · outlawed · outlawing

Similar words

ban
Ban is the usual shorter word for official prohibition.
forbid
Forbid can describe a personal instruction rather than a legal prohibition.