Prescribe vs. Proscribe: Recommend or Forbid?

The Key Difference

These words are nearly opposites:

• Prescribe = to recommend, order, or authorize (especially medicine)
• Proscribe = to forbid, prohibit, or condemn

Using Prescribe

“Prescribe” means to order or recommend:

• “The doctor prescribed antibiotics.” ✓
• “The law prescribes specific penalties.” ✓
• “The recipe prescribes exact measurements.” ✓
• “Custom prescribes formal attire for the event.” ✓

Using Proscribe

“Proscribe” means to forbid or banish:

• “The organization proscribes discrimination.” ✓
• “Certain behaviors are proscribed by law.” ✓
• “The regime proscribed political opposition.” ✓
• “The treaty proscribes chemical weapons.” ✓

Memory Trick

• Prescribe = PRE means “before” (the doctor writes the order before you get the medicine)
• Proscribe = PRO here means “forward/away” (pushing something away, forbidding it)

Or simpler:

• Prescribe = the doctor prescribes (positive, helpful)
• Proscribe = prohibition (both start with “pro” and are negative)

Quick Test

Recommending or ordering something? → prescribe Forbidding or banning something? → proscribe