variants
or less commonly tabu
1
a
: banned on grounds of morality or taste
the subject is taboo
b
: banned as constituting a risk
Treatments outside the statistically proven are considered taboo …—Jerome Groopman
2
: forbidden for nonreligious use or contact because of what are held to be dangerous supernatural powers
variants
or less commonly tabu
plural taboos also tabus
1
a
: a prohibition imposed by social custom or as a protective measure
… they may have developed a taboo against eating fish.—Jared Diamond
b
: 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.—Peter J. Boyer
2
: a prohibition against touching, saying, or doing something for fear of immediate harm from a supernatural force
3
: belief in taboos
variants
or less commonly tabu
tabooed also tabued; tabooing also tabuing; taboos also tabus
1
: to set apart as taboo especially by marking with a ritualistic symbol
2
: to avoid or ban as taboo
Cite this Entry
“Taboo.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/taboo. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.
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