Debar
/dɪˈbɑːr/
Definitions
To exclude or prohibit someone from entering or doing something.
/dɪˈbɑːr/
To exclude or prohibit someone from doing something.
The school debarred the students from participating in the competition due to cheating.
💡 Simply: Imagine there's a club you really want to get into, but the bouncer says you can't. That's like being 'debarred'—you're not allowed to go in or do something you wanted to.
👶 For kids: To stop someone from doing something or going somewhere.
More Examples
The company debarred him from accessing company data after the security breach.
The regulations debar individuals from using certain types of equipment.
How It's Used
"The judge debarred the lawyer from practicing law."
"He was debarred from the professional organization for misconduct."
Idioms & expressions
debarment from public office
The act of officially preventing someone from holding a public office.
"The scandal led to his debarment from public office."
From Middle English *debarren*, from Old French *desbarrer* (“to unbar, shut out”), from *des-* (dis-) + *barrer* (“to bar”).
Historically used in legal and social contexts to restrict activities or access.
Memory tip
Think of a 'bar' as an obstacle; to 'debar' is to remove someone's access to that bar (and thus the activity behind it).
Word Origin
"to unbar, shut out"