taboo Meaning & Definition
What Does Taboo Mean?
As an adjective, taboo means banned on grounds of morality or taste. It can also mean banned as constituting a risk. As a noun, it means a prohibition imposed by social custom or as a protective measure. As a verb, it means to set apart as taboo especially by marking with a ritualistic symbol.
Word Facts for Taboo
| Part of speech | adjective, noun, verb |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /tə-ˈbü/ |
| Syllables | 2 |
| Synonyms | sacred, out and prohibited |
| Antonyms | allowable, permissible and permissive |
| Plural | taboos |
| Comparative / superlative | more taboo, most taboo |
| Verb forms | taboos, tabooing, tabooed |
| First known use | 1777 |
Taboo Definition (Adjective)
- banned on grounds of morality or taste
the subject is taboo
- banned as constituting a risk
Treatments outside the statistically proven are considered taboo …
- forbidden for nonreligious use or contact because of what are held to be dangerous supernatural powers
Taboo as a Noun
- a prohibition imposed by social custom or as a protective measure
… they may have developed a taboo against eating fish.
- something that is not acceptable to say, mention, or do : something that is taboo
… the tacticians in a conservative Republican Administration now deem membership in the club a taboo.
- a prohibition against touching, saying, or doing something for fear of immediate harm from a supernatural force
- belief in taboos
Taboo as a Verb
- to set apart as taboo especially by marking with a ritualistic symbol
- to avoid or ban as taboo
Synonyms of Taboo
Taboo synonyms and antonyms →Antonyms of Taboo
Taboo in a Sentence
the subject is taboo
Treatments outside the statistically proven are considered taboo …
… they may have developed a taboo against eating fish.
… the tacticians in a conservative Republican Administration now deem membership in the club a taboo.
asking a guest how much money he or she makes is strictly taboo because it's a rude question to ask a stranger
Word Forms & Grammar
taboo
tabu
ta·boos
ta·bus
taboos
tabus
ta·booed
ta·bued
ta·boo·ing
ta·bu·ing
tabooed
tabooing
tabued
tabuing
taboo (countable and uncountable, plural taboos)
taboo (comparative more taboo, superlative most taboo)
taboo (third-person singular simple present taboos, present participle tabooing, simple past and past participle tabooed)
Words That Rhyme With Taboo
Origin of Taboo
Origin 1: Tongan tabu
Origin 2: Borrowed from Tongan tapu (“prohibited, sacred”), from Proto-Polynesian *tapu, from Proto-Oceanic *tabu, from Proto-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *tambu. Doublet of kapu. First attested in c. 1777.
Origin 3: The p in the Tongan source was misheard as b.
First Known Use
1777
How Do You Say Taboo?
Taboo is pronounced /tə-ˈbü/ and has 2 syllables, with the main stress on the second syllable (bü).
Taboo: Your Questions Answered
Is taboo an adjective or a noun?
Taboo is mainly used as an adjective, but it can also be used as a noun and a verb.
What is another word for taboo?
You can replace taboo with words such as sacred, out and prohibited. See the full list of taboo synonyms and antonyms.
What is the opposite of taboo?
Words opposite in meaning to taboo are allowable, permissible, permissive and sufferable.
What is the plural of taboo?
The plural of taboo is taboos.
What is the past tense of taboo?
The past tense of taboo is tabooed. The present participle is tabooing.