taboo
tuh-BOO
/təˈbuː/
A social or religious custom prohibiting or restricting a particular practice or forbidding association with a particular person, place, or thing.
A taboo is much stronger than a simple 'faux pas'; it implies a deep-seated cultural or spiritual prohibition that often carries a sense of shame or danger.
The story behind the word. Captain James Cook first recorded the word 'taboo' during his voyage to Tonga in 1777. He discovered that the locals used 'tapu' to describe things that were sacred or forbidden to touch.
Word relationships
- prohibition: A prohibition is a formal ban, while a taboo is often an unwritten cultural or religious rule.
- interdiction: An interdiction is an authoritative prohibition, whereas a taboo is rooted in custom.
- sanctioned: Something sanctioned is officially permitted or encouraged, the opposite of a taboo.
Commonly confused with
- offensive: Something offensive causes displeasure, but a taboo is specifically something forbidden by custom.
Word family
- taboo (noun): The prohibition itself.
- taboo (verb): To make something forbidden.
Collocations
- cultural taboo
- social taboo
- strictly taboo
- break a taboo
Example sentences
- "The word 'taboo' is common to the various dialects of Polynesia and refers to things that are forbidden." Anthropology
- "In many modern workplaces, discussing one's salary remains a significant social taboo." Modern Society
Memory hook
If you do something 'taboo', you might be 'booed' by the whole community. Taboo is 'too' much for society to handle.
When not to use
Avoid using 'taboo' for minor social awkwardness; it should be reserved for things that are strictly forbidden by a culture.
Fun facts
- The word taboo entered the English language specifically because of 18th-century Pacific exploration.
Related words
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