- an official rule that says that something is not allowed
- a smoking ban
- A majority of people are against the ban.
- ban on something They are calling for a blanket ban (= complete ban) on the use of phones while driving.
- They have imposed a total ban on the import of seal skins.
- There are no plans to lift the ban on the sale of fireworks to children.
Extra ExamplesTopics Permission and obligationb1- a nuclear test ban treaty
- The ban on exports has now been eased.
- The ban only covers tropical hardwood.
- The ban will affect all public and work premises.
- The students took to the streets, defying a ban on political gatherings.
- There is a ban on traffic in the town centre.
- Hopes are growing for a lifting of the import ban.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- blanket
- complete
- outright
- …
- enact
- impose
- introduce
- …
- come into force
- start
- apply to something
- …
- ban on
- an official decision that means a person is not allowed to do something or go somewhere for a period of time
- a five-year driving ban for various offences
- The sprinter received a lengthy ban for failing a drugs test.
- ban from something His behaviour led to a life ban from international football.
Word OriginOld English bannan ‘summon by a public proclamation’, of Germanic origin, reinforced by Old Norse banna ‘curse, prohibit’; the noun is partly from Old French ban ‘proclamation, summons, banishment’.
Check pronunciation:
ban