If there is a taboo on a subject or activity, it is a social custom to avoid doing that activity or talking about that subject, because people find them embarrassing or offensive.
The topic of addiction remains something of a taboo.
Taboo is also an adjective.
Cancer is a taboo subject and people are frightened to talk openly about it.
More Synonyms of taboo
taboo in British English
or tabu (təˈbuː)
adjective
1.
forbidden or disapproved of; placed under a social prohibition or ban
taboo words
2.
(in Polynesia and other islands of the South Pacific) marked off as simultaneously sacred and forbidden
nounWord forms: plural-boos or -bus
3.
any prohibition resulting from social or other conventions
4.
ritual restriction or prohibition, esp of something that is considered holy or unclean
verb
5. (transitive)
to place under a taboo
Word origin
C18: from Tongan tapu
taboo in American English
(təˈbu; tæˈbu)
nounWord forms: pluraltaˈboos
1.
a.
among some Polynesian peoples, a sacred prohibition put upon certain people, things, or acts which makes them untouchable, unmentionable, etc.
b.
the highly developed system or practice of such prohibitions
2.
a.
any social prohibition or restriction that results from convention or tradition
b. Linguistics
the substitution of one word or phrase for another because of such restriction
adjective
3.
sacred and prohibited by taboo
4.
restricted by taboo
said of people
5.
prohibited or forbidden by tradition, convention, etc.
verb transitiveWord forms: taˈbooed or taˈbooing
6.
to put under taboo
7.
to prohibit or forbid because of tradition, convention, etc.
Word origin
< a Polynesian language: cf. Tongan, Samoan, Maori, etc. tapu
Examples of 'taboo' in a sentence
taboo
In a speech, the duke said that mental health should not be a taboo subject.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
We're proud of talking about the taboo topics.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
She said:'There is still a taboo about sharing this kind of information and certainly for people of my generation.
The Sun (2016)
The taboo is so strong and the damage is so great.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The old taboo has long been a war between fashionistas and animal rights groups.
The Sun (2015)
Not long ago it was rarely employed and often taboo.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
There is virtually no area that is taboo.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
It was taboo for a long time.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
You will have learned from your own experience that anxiety is a taboo topic.
Hambly, Dr Kenneth Banish Anxiety - how to stop worrying and take charge of your life (1991)
It is a social taboo of mountainous proportions.
Christianity Today (2000)
Yet tears at work can still be taboo.
The Sun (2008)
Stories like this just have to be aired otherwise domestic abuse becomes a taboo subject.
The Sun (2016)
So why is it still such a taboo subject?
The Sun (2011)
Mental health can be a taboo subject to talk about.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
The whole topic is so taboo.
The Sun (2015)
So strong is the taboo'A nice tie.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The row lifted the lid on the taboo surrounding often obscene art and graffiti in French hospitals.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
It's one of the great social taboos and seems utterly unaffected by progress in other areas.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
In other languages
taboo
British English: taboo /təˈbuː/ ADJECTIVE
If a subject or activity is taboo, it is a social custom to avoid doing that activity or talking about that subject, because people find it embarrassing or offensive.
Cancer is a taboo subject and people are frightened or embarrassed to talk openly about it.
American English: taboo
Arabic: مُحَرَّم
Brazilian Portuguese: tabu
Chinese: 禁忌的
Croatian: tabu
Czech: tabuizovaný
Danish: tabubelagt
Dutch: taboe
European Spanish: tabú
Finnish: tabu-
French: tabou
German: tabu
Greek: ταμπού
Italian: tabù
Japanese: タブーとなっている
Korean: 금지된
Norwegian: tabu
Polish: zakazany
European Portuguese: tabu
Romanian: interzis
Russian: запретный
Latin American Spanish: tabú
Swedish: tabuförklarad
Thai: ซึ่งต้องห้าม
Turkish: tabu
Ukrainian: заборонений
Vietnamese: cấm kỵ
British English: taboo /təˈbuː/ NOUN
If there is a taboo on a subject or activity, it is a social custom to avoid doing that activity or talking about that subject, because people find it embarrassing or offensive.
The topic of addiction remains something of a taboo.
American English: taboo
Arabic: مُحَرَّم
Brazilian Portuguese: tabu
Chinese: 禁忌
Croatian: tabu
Czech: tabu
Danish: tabu
Dutch: taboe
European Spanish: tabú
Finnish: tabu
French: tabou
German: Tabu
Greek: ταμπού
Italian: tabù
Japanese: タブー
Korean: 금기
Norwegian: tabu
Polish: zakaz tabu
European Portuguese: tabu
Romanian: tabu
Russian: табу
Latin American Spanish: tabú
Swedish: tabu
Thai: ข้อห้าม
Turkish: tabu
Ukrainian: табу
Vietnamese: điều cấm kỵ
Chinese translation of 'taboo'
taboo
(təˈbuː)
n(c)
(religious, social) 禁忌 (jìnjì)
adj
[subject, place, name etc]忌讳(諱)的 (jìhuì de)
(adjective)
Definition
forbidden or disapproved-of
Cancer is a taboo subject.
Synonyms
forbidden
Smoking was forbidden everywhere.
banned
prohibited
Fishing is prohibited here.
ruled out
not allowed
unacceptable
outlawed
unthinkable
not permitted
disapproved of
anathema
off limits
frowned on
proscribed
beyond the pale
unmentionable
Has he got some unmentionable disease?
Opposites
allowed
,
permitted
,
sanctioned
,
acceptable
(noun)
Definition
a ritual prohibition, esp. of something that is considered holy or unclean
a cultural taboo against eating fish
Synonyms
prohibition
a comprehensive prohibition of nuclear weapons
ban
The General also lifted a ban on political parties.
restriction
disapproval
anathema
interdict
The government has placed an interdict on fishing within territorial waters.
proscription
the proscription of all customs not conforming to religious law
tapu (New Zealand)
Additional synonyms
in the sense of ban
Definition
an official prohibition
The General also lifted a ban on political parties.
Synonyms
prohibition,
block,
restriction,
veto,
boycott,
embargo,
injunction,
censorship,
taboo,
suppression,
stoppage,
disqualification,
interdiction,
interdict,
proscription,
disallowance,
rahui (New Zealand),
restraining order (US)
in the sense of interdict
Definition
an official prohibition or restraint
The government has placed an interdict on fishing within territorial waters.
Synonyms
ban,
veto,
prohibition,
taboo,
disqualification,
interdiction,
disallowance,
restraining order (US)
in the sense of prohibited
Fishing is prohibited here.
Synonyms
forbidden,
barred,
banned,
illegal,
not allowed,
vetoed,
taboo,
off limits,
proscribed,
verboten
Synonyms of 'taboo'
taboo
Explore 'taboo' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of proscription
the proscription of all customs not conforming to religious law