disallow

USAGE SUMMARY

"disallow" is a correct and usable word in written English.
It is a verb that means to forbid, or prevent from happening. You can use it when expressing that someone or something is not permitted to do or have something. Example: The school disallowed the students from wearing open-toed shoes.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Replays show the decision to disallow the goal was correct, but he wasn't offside by much.

The Guardian - Sport

While Australia has never been tempted to adopt the mooted British proposal of actively talking down the nation in order to discourage immigration from Romania and Bulgaria – Australian rhetoric about being the greatest nation on earth would disallow such posturing – both parties have hardline stances on immigration.

The Guardian - Opinion

That was just one of a series of tit-for-tat remarks that flew back and forth between the clubs, Torino lamenting the referee's failure to disallow the goal while Juventus mocked their rivals for failing to create any scoring chances of their own.

The Guardian - Sport

The Commonwealth's power to disallow laws made in the territory was weakened in the last parliament and now requires legislation to be passed through both the House of Representatives and the Senate, making it much more difficult than when the Howard government overturned an attempt by the ACT to legalise same sex marriage seven years ago.

The Guardian

It does not disallow altruistic behaviour, but requires that this evolve in a way that promotes the interest of a particular gene for example by helping close relatives who might also harbour the gene in question.

The Economist

The opposition parties who control a majority in the Senate, the upper house of the federal parliament, say they will disallow the excision regulation when parliament resumes on November 24th.

The Economist

After Mr Dotcom's arrest, similar sites immediately changed their policies to disallow any sharing of content between users.

The Economist

Legitimate sources for execution drugs are all but impossible to come by, as European drug-makers disallow the sale of their products for use in lethal injections.

The Economist

England's exit from the World Cup at the hands of Argentina (not literally, this time) was variously blamed (by the English) on the referee's decision to send off David Beckham, or to disallow a third English goal, or not to give a penalty that might have given England the lead.

The Economist

Disallow early withdrawals from retirement savings accounts, (but keep loan features).

The Economist

Gulliver, who has always worked for companies that disallow subsidised travel, may come down on the sanctimonious side of the fence on this issue, but is willing to hear from others who have taken supplier-paid trips and walked away with their decision-making facilities unaffected.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "disallow" in formal and neutral contexts, as it carries a degree of authority and finality.

Common error

Avoid using "disallow" when a simple suggestion or discouragement is intended. "Disallow" implies a formal or authoritative prevention, not just a recommendation.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "disallow" is as a transitive verb. It signifies the act of withholding permission or authority, preventing a specific action or outcome. Ludwig provides numerous examples showcasing this usage in diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Encyclopedias

15%

Science

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "disallow" functions as a transitive verb that conveys the act of prohibiting or denying something. As confirmed by Ludwig, it adheres to standard grammar rules and enjoys widespread use across diverse contexts, particularly in News & Media, Encyclopedias, and Science. The phrase carries a neutral to formal tone, making it suitable for professional and authoritative communication. When using "disallow", it's important to specify what is being prevented and by whom to maintain clarity. Although "disallow" is a valid word, one should be mindful about its alternatives such as "prohibit", "forbid", and "veto".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

prohibit

A more direct synonym, emphasizing a formal prohibition.

forbid

Similar to "prohibit", but can also imply a personal command or order.

veto

Implies the power to reject or prevent something, especially in a political or authoritative context.

rule out

Suggests eliminating something as a possibility or option.

block

Indicates an obstruction or prevention of something from proceeding.

preclude

Means to make something impossible or prevent it from happening.

reject

To refuse to accept or approve of something.

decline

Similar to "reject", but often implies a polite refusal.

disapprove

To have an unfavorable opinion of something, potentially leading to its prohibition.

oppose

To actively resist or object to something, potentially preventing it from happening.

FAQs

How to use "disallow" in a sentence?

"Disallow" means to refuse to allow something. For example, "The referee may "disallow" the goal if the player was offside."

What can I say instead of "disallow"?

You can use alternatives like "prohibit", "forbid", or "veto" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "disallow" or "not allow"?

Both "disallow" and "not allow" are correct, but "disallow" is more formal and implies a stronger sense of prohibition. You can use "do not allow" in other cases. For example: "The rules do not allow cell phones".

What's the difference between "disallow" and "disable"?

"Disallow" means to prohibit or refuse permission, while "disable" means to make something inoperative or unable to function. For example, you might "disallow" someone from entering a building, or you might "disable" a car alarm.