interdict
in·ter·dict/ˈɪntɚdɪkt/noun, verb
interdict is spelled I-N-T-E-R-D-I-C-T: 9 letters and 3 syllables (in·ter·dict). It appears about once in every 4 million words in written English, the 62,894th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a noun, interdict means “A papal decree prohibiting the administration of the sacraments from a political entity under the power of a single person (e.g., a king or an…” (English Wiktionary, September 2026). The plural of interdict is interdicts.
How many letters and syllables are in interdict?
| Letters | 9: I-N-T-E-R-D-I-C-T |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 3: in·ter·dict |
| In writing | about once in every 4 million words; the 62,894th most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How common is interdict?
Interdict appears about once in every 4 million words in written English, the 62,894th most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce interdict?
- US /ˈɪntɚdɪkt/
- UK /ˈɪntədɪkt/
As a verb (“To exclude (someone or somewhere) from participation in…”): /ɪntɚˈdɪkt/, /ɪntəˈdɪkt/.
Interdict has 3 syllables, split in·ter·dict in writing.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: LL-Q1860_(eng)-Vealhurl-interdict_(noun).wav, LL-Q1860_(eng)-Vealhurl-interdict_(verb).wav, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
Forms of interdict
- interdicts plural, present, singular, he/she/it
- interdicting participle, present
- interdicted participle, past
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does interdict mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
noun
- 1
A papal decree prohibiting the administration of the sacraments from a political entity under the power of a single person (e.g., a king or an oligarchy with similar powers). Extreme unction/Anointing of the Sick is excepted.
- 2
An injunction.
verb
- 1
To exclude (someone or somewhere) from participation in church services; to place under a religious interdict.
- 2
To forbid (an action or thing) by formal or legal sanction.
- 3
To forbid (someone) from doing something.
- 4
USTo impede (an enemy); to interrupt or destroy (enemy communications, supply lines etc).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Interdict in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | interdit , interdire |
| German | Interdikt |
| Spanish | entredecir , interdecir |
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.
Where does interdict come from?
From Middle English entrediten, from Old French entredire (“forbid”), from Latin interdīcō (“prohibit, forbid”), from inter- (“between”) + dīcō (“say”), from Proto-Indo-European *deyḱ-.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).