Agency Dictionary

Taboo

nounPronunciation: /təˈbuː/

In Portuguese: Tabu

What does “Taboo” mean?

A social, cultural, or religious prohibition restricting a particular practice, discussion, or association under moral penalty.

Etymology

From Tongan tapu, "sacred, forbidden, set apart". Captain James Cook recorded the word during his voyages to the Pacific in the 1770s, writing it as taboo, and English adopted it to name a prohibition imposed by social custom or religious belief rather than by formal legislation. Related forms exist in other Polynesian languages.

Usage note

Used as both a noun (a taboo, social taboos) and an adjective (a taboo subject). Breaking a taboo carries social shame rather than legal punishment.

Synonyms

prohibition
ban
restriction

Rhymes with

bamboo
tattoo
shampoo

Usage examples

behind every taboo, there is history, knowledge, meaning and even love to be found.
Creative.11 - Thiago Patriota
There was pretty much a lot of taboo around men and psychological care back in 1999 but there was Tony Soprano, a feared mob boss sharing his fears and secrets with a doctor with the only goal of becoming a better person while his work stripped him from his humanity.

Concepts

Source editions

Where this entry comes from in the Agency editorial.

Words of the same theme

shogunatenoun: A feudal military dictatorship in Japan, headed by a shogun, in which loyalty and honour were central to its operation. The system was exclusive to Japan and did not exist in other Asian nations.
Stigmanoun: A mark of social disgrace, shame, or prejudice associated with a particular circumstance, trait, or behavior.
Monoclenoun: A single eyeglass lens designed to correct or enhance vision in one eye, held in place by the facial muscles around the eye socket.
collective consciousnessnoun: The set of beliefs, ideas and feelings shared by the members of a society, which exists beyond any single person. By extension, what a community knows and repeats in common.
samurainoun: A member of the warrior class of feudal Japan, bound by codes of loyalty and honour, who served under the shogunate system. In the article, the samurai class is one of the two groups with access to Noh theatre.
Agoranoun: A public open space in ancient Greek cities used for assemblies, commercial markets, and philosophical dialogue.
Allegiancenoun: Loyalty, commitment, or devoted obligation felt by an individual toward a nation, cause, sovereign, or athletic club. It creates emotional cohesion and enduring solidarity across social communities.
Aûsunoun: An Old Tupi noun denoting love, affection, friendship, or benevolent regard.
Aûsubverb: An Old Tupi transitive verb meaning to love, care for, or hold someone in deep esteem.
baronnoun: A member of the aristocracy, or an influential magnate exercising commanding power in a specific industry.
Benefactornoun: A person who supports, protects, or assists another individual through resources, rank, or mentorship.
Bilingualadjective: Possessing the ability to speak two languages fluently, or conducted using two distinct linguistic mediums.

Also from these editions: terms

Antithesisnoun: A person, thing, or concept that represents the direct or exact opposite of another.
Resiliencenoun: The capacity to withstand or recover quickly from difficulties, tough conditions, or shock.
briefingnoun: A concise set of instructions or background information provided to guide a project or creative assignment.
Ambiguousadjective: Open to more than one interpretation; lacking definitive clarity or certainty in meaning, intention, or moral alignment.
Anesthetizeverb: To administer an anesthetic to eliminate physical feeling, or figuratively to numb emotional or critical awareness.
Arrogancenoun: An offensive display of superiority, self-importance, or overbearing pride that disparages others and their contributions.
Catharticadjective: Providing psychological relief through the open expression and release of strong or repressed emotions.
Compassionnoun: Deep awareness of the suffering of another coupled with the genuine desire to alleviate their distress and provide solace.
Dignitynoun: The quality of being worthy of honor, esteem, and ethical respect; a composed, self-respecting conduct under adversity.
Ephemeraladjective: Lasting for only a very brief period of time; fleeting, transitory, or impermanent in nature.
Legacynoun: An enduring body of work, set of values, or material inheritance handed down from a predecessor to future generations.
Lineagenoun: Direct lineal descent from an ancestor, or an unbroken historical sequence of practitioners, ideas, or artistic traditions.