verboten
UK: vəˈbəʊt(ə)n | US: vərˈboʊt(ə)n
adj. forbidden or prohibited by authority (often used in English to convey a sense of strict, culturally embedded prohibition, especially with German connotations).
"Verboten" is a direct borrowing from German, where "verbieten" means "to forbid." The morpheme "verb" derives from the Proto-Germanic *fer-, meaning "against" or "away," while "-oten" is the past participle suffix in German (akin to English "-ed"). The word entered English in the early 20th century, often retaining its German cultural nuance—evoking strict, authoritarian prohibitions (e.g., Nazi-era bans). Its adoption reflects English's tendency to absorb vivid foreign terms for specific connotations.
Smoking is strictly verboten in this facility.
The teacher declared cellphones verboten during exams.
In their household, sugary snacks were verboten.
The sign read, "Parking here is verboten—violators will be towed."
Such outdated practices are now socially verboten.