The proscription of the political parties was one of the steps taken by the military.

Analyze the question You are asked to find the word closest in meaning to the word "proscription" as used in the sentence.

Explain the concept "Proscription" comes from the verb proscribe, which means to forbid or prohibit something officially, especially by law. A proscribed group or activity is one that has been officially banned. The military governments in Nigeria's history often proscribed political parties, which means they outlawed them.

Show the solution Let's test each option in the sentence:

• A. launching: This means starting or introducing something. It is the opposite of proscribing, so it is wrong.
• B. expulsion: This means driving out a person or people, such as expelling a student or member. You expel individuals, but you do not "expel" a party in the sense of legally outlawing it. It is close but not exact.
• C. banning: This means officially prohibiting. "The banning of the political parties" matches the meaning of proscription exactly.
• D. removal: This means taking something away. It does not carry the legal idea of prohibition.

Identify the answer The correct answer is C. banning.

Tip Remember the pair proscribe = prohibit (both start with "pro" and refer to forbidding). Do not confuse it with prescribe, which means to recommend or order, as a doctor does with medicine. A quick memory trick: proscribe = prohibit, prescribe = recommend.