First Known Use: 12th century
Dictionary
1ban
verb \ˈban\
: to forbid people from using (something) : to say that something cannot be used or done
: to forbid (someone) from doing or being part of something
bannedban·ning
Full Definition of BAN
transitive verb
1
archaic : curse
2
: to prohibit especially by legal means <ban discrimination>; also : to prohibit the use, performance, or distribution of <ban a book> <ban a pesticide>
3
: bar 3c <banned from the U.N.>
intransitive verb
archaic : to utter curses or maledictions
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Origin of BAN
Middle English bannen to summon, curse, from Old English bannan to summon; akin to Old High German bannan to command, Latin fari to speak, Greek phanai to say, phōnē sound, voice
Related to BAN
2ban
noun
Definition of BAN
1
: the summoning in feudal times of the king's vassals for military service
2
3
: malediction, curse
4
: legal or formal prohibition <a ban on beef exports>
5
: censure or condemnation especially through social pressure
Origin of BAN
Middle English, partly from bannen & partly from Old French ban, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German bannan to command
First Known Use: 14th century
3ban
noun \ˈbän\
plural ba·ni \ˈbä-(ˌ)nē\
Definition of BAN
— see leu at money table
Origin of BAN
Romanian, money, coin, small coin
First Known Use: 1880
BAN Defined for Kids
1ban
verb \ˈban\
bannedban·ning
Definition of BAN for Kids
: to forbid especially by law or social pressure <Smoking was banned.>
2ban
noun
Definition of BAN for Kids
: an official order forbidding something
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