Verboten
adjective /fɛrˈboʊ.tən/ — Forbidden, especially by authority — German for prohibited
Definition
Strictly forbidden — especially by authority. The German word entered English carrying the particular flavour of German authoritarianism: verboten suggests official, bureaucratic prohibition rather than social taboo.
Beyond the definition
Verboten arrived in English from wartime — the word of signs, rules, and military authority. It carries a slightly comic edge now: to use it is to playfully exaggerate the prohibition, to make even small rules sound as if an empire has forbidden them.
Origin & history
German: verboten (forbidden). Past participle of verbieten (to forbid). Entered English usage particularly during the World Wars, when German signs and words became familiar to Allied soldiers.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
Discussion of the merger was verboten before the official announcement.
She had a list of verboten topics for family dinners, which meant no politics and no religion.
Verboten carries a slightly theatrical quality in English — the word overperforms the prohibition.
How to use it
This entry uses an adjective. Follow the examples for the nouns it describes and its position in the sentence.
Choose “Verboten” when the meaning fits your context: Strictly forbidden — especially by authority. The German word entered English carrying the particular flavour of German authoritarianism: verboten suggests official, bureaucratic prohibition rather than social taboo.
Synonyms
forbidden, prohibited, banned
Antonyms
permitted, allowed
Related words
Verboten vs prohibited
Verboten carries a stark, often military or historical tone. Prohibited is the standard, neutral term used in rules and regulations.
Compare this word
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Authority Defining Forbidden Territory
An adult stands before a maze with an imposing guardian figure.
The guardian represents official authority, and the maze stands for the verboten path. Unlike a social taboo, this prohibition is enforced by a specific figure, making the forbidden nature of the maze explicit, bureaucratic, and strictly controlled.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Verboten" mean?
Verboten is adjective meaning: Forbidden, especially by authority — German for prohibited. Strictly forbidden — especially by authority. The German word entered English carrying the particular flavour of German authoritarianism: verboten suggests official, bureaucratic prohibition rather than social taboo.
Where does the word "Verboten" come from?
German: verboten (forbidden). Past participle of verbieten (to forbid). Entered English usage particularly during the World Wars, when German signs and words became familiar to Allied soldiers.