Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense debars, present participle debarring, past tense, past participle debarred
verb [usually passive]
If you are debarredfrom doing something, you are prevented from doing it by a law or regulation.
[formal]
If found guilty, she could be debarred from politics for seven years. [beVERB-ed + from]
Because of his criminal record, he was debarred from entering the teaching profession. [beV-ed from n/-ing]
[Also beV-ed from -ing]
Synonyms: bar, exclude, prohibit, black More Synonyms of debar
debar in British English
(dɪˈbɑː)
verbWord forms: -bars, -barring or -barred
(transitive; usually foll byfrom)
to exclude from a place, a right, etc; bar
▶ USAGE See note at disbar
Derived forms
debarment (deˈbarment)
noun
debar in American English
(diˈbɑr)
verb transitiveWord forms: deˈbarred or deˈbarring
1.
to keep (a person) from some right or privilege; exclude; bar
2.
to prevent, hinder, or prohibit
SIMILAR WORDS: exˈclude
Derived forms
debarment (deˈbarment)
noun
Word origin
ME debarren < Anglo-Fr debarrer: see de- & bar1
Synonyms of 'debar'
bar, exclude, prohibit, black
More Synonyms of debar
(verb)
Definition
to prevent (someone) from doing something
She could be debarred from politics for several years.
Synonyms
bar
They have been barred from playing in several countries.
exclude
The orchestra excluded children younger than twelve.
prohibit
the law which prohibits trading on Sunday
black
stop
I think she really would have liked to stop everything right there.
keep out
preclude
The fact that they live in London precludes them from coming.
shut out
blackball
Members can blackball candidates in secret ballots.
interdict
Troops could be ferried in to interdict drug shipments.
refuse admission to
Usage note
The word debar is not synonymous with disbar, which should only be used when talking about a barrister, although evidence shows that the two are often confused.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of black
Definition
(of trade unionists) to organize a boycott of (specified goods, work, etc.)
Synonyms
boycott,
bar,
ban,
blacklist
in the sense of blackball
Definition
to exclude (someone) from a group, etc.
Members can blackball candidates in secret ballots.
Synonyms
remove,
bar,
ban,
exclude,
get rid of,
veto,
embargo,
expel,
throw out,
oust,
snub,
vote against,
force out,
evict,
disallow,
shut out,
repudiate,
blacklist,
ostracize,
debar,
drum out
in the sense of exclude
Definition
to keep out
The orchestra excluded children younger than twelve.