interdict

Meanings

1. 1verbtransitiveformallegalreligion

   To officially forbid an action, especially by a court, church, or authority.

   Grammar: Takes an object: interdict something, often in legal or religious contexts.

   Patterns

   • interdict something
   • interdict someone from doing something

   The court interdicted the company from selling the copied medicine.

   The bishop interdicted the practice, calling it against church law.

   Local authorities interdicted the use of the old bridge until repairs were finished.

2. 2verbtransitiveformalmilitary

   To stop or block something from moving or being delivered, especially in a military action.

   Grammar: Takes an object: interdict supplies, traffic, etc. Common in military reports.

   Patterns

   • interdict supplies
   • interdict a route
   • interdict enemy movement

   The navy interdicted the ship before it could reach the coast.

   Air forces were ordered to interdict the roads used by the rebels.

   Customs officers interdicted a large shipment of illegal goods at the border.

3. 3nouncountableformallegalreligion

   An official order that forbids something, especially from a court or church.

   Grammar: Countable: an interdict, the interdict. Very formal and mostly in legal or religious writing.

   Patterns

   • issue an interdict
   • lift an interdict
   • an interdict against something

   The judge issued an interdict to stop the building work.

   The church lifted the interdict after the community apologized.

   An interdict against the protest was announced by the local council.

Word forms

Common combinations

interdict supplies

The general hoped to interdict supplies before winter.

issue an interdict

The court decided to issue an interdict against the demolition.

interdict someone from

The regulator interdicted the firm from trading until it fixed the problem.

interdict a route

Troops were sent to interdict the mountain route.

Synonyms and how they differ

prohibit

A more general word for officially forbidding something; interdict is narrower and more formal.

ban

Common in everyday language; interdict is mostly used in legal, military, or religious writing.

blockade

Usually means surrounding a place to stop goods or people entering or leaving; interdict can be more specific.

Opposites

Word family

interdiction noun

The act of officially forbidding or blocking something.

Commonly confused: interdict or interdict?

Practice

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