# Searching for a word in English

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/searching-for-a-word-in-english/1029620>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [April 28, 2026, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/searching-for-a-word-in-english/1029620 "2026-04-28T13:47:14Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Cardigan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardigan/32/187_2.png) [@Cardigan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardigan)\
**Post date:** [April 28, 2026, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/searching-for-a-word-in-english/1029620/1 "2026-04-28T13:47:14Z")

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[![](https://th.bing.com/th/id/OIP.Wpa7v_5jTBPhlaWKY7USNQHaH0?w=182&h=192&c=7&r=0&o=7&pid=1.7&rm=3) ](https://th.bing.com/th/id/OIP.Wpa7v_5jTBPhlaWKY7USNQHaH0?w=182&h=192&c=7&r=0&o=7&pid=1.7&rm=3)

Is there a specific term for that red circular symbol with a line going through it at a 45 degree angle that indicates “no [fill in blank] allowed”?

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**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\
**Post date:** [April 28, 2026, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/searching-for-a-word-in-english/1029620/2 "2026-04-28T13:52:08Z")

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The ISO (International Organization for Standardization) 7010 defines it as the **General Prohibition Sign**.

[https://www.iso.org/obp/ui/#iso:grs:7010:P001](https://www.iso.org/obp/ui/#iso:grs:7010:P001)

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**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\
**Post date:** [April 28, 2026, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/searching-for-a-word-in-english/1029620/3 "2026-04-28T13:53:40Z")

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Wikipedia calls it a “No” symbol.

> **[No symbol](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No_symbol?wprov=sfti1)**
>
> The general prohibition sign, also known informally as the no symbol, "do not" sign, circle-backslash symbol, nay, interdictory circle, and the prohibited symbol, is a red circle with a 45-degree diagonal line inside the circle from upper-left to lower-right. It is typically overlaid on a pictogram to warn that an activity is not permitted, or has accompanying text to describe what is prohibited. It is a mechanism in graphical form to assert "drawn norms", i.e. to qualify behaviour without the Ac...

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**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\
**Post date:** [April 28, 2026, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/searching-for-a-word-in-english/1029620/4 "2026-04-28T13:54:41Z")

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I’ve seen it referred to as a “prohibitory.”