Disallow means: To refuse to allow.. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up. For most families this word will pass by without incident; it is more a vocabulary curiosity than a parenting concern.
Definitions
UK
#1·Apr 27, 2026UK
To refuse to allow.
The prisoners were disallowed to contact with a lawyer.
Origin: From , desallowen, a borrowing from , .. Origin information sourced from Wiktionary contributors (CC BY-SA 4.0).
For parents
Disallow means: To refuse to allow.. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up. For most families this word will pass by without incident; it is more a vocabulary curiosity than a parenting concern.
For ESL learners
disallow means: To refuse to allow.. Register: neutral, standard English. A common learner mistake is using the word in a register it does not fit, or assuming a single global meaning; native speakers immediately notice when slang appears in formal contexts, so always check the surrounding register before producing it yourself. A formal-English equivalent (a synonym or descriptive phrase) is usually safer in writing. When in doubt, paraphrase rather than reuse the slang form.
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UK
#2·Apr 27, 2026UK
To reject as invalid, untrue, or improper.
The goal was disallowed because the player was offside.
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UK
#3·Apr 27, 2026UK
(UK, law, historical) To overrule a colonial legislation by the sovereign-in-privy council.
The prisoners were disallowed to contact with a lawyer.
Cluster: general
Heard in the wild
“Did I think VAR would disallow the goal so didn’t go full ‘limbs’? Prefer not to speak”
— Bluesky· May 2026
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For specific readers
Why is this section here?
Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.
Used in
UK
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🇬🇧About British & Irish slang slang
UK and Irish slang — Cockney, Scouse, Geordie, Yorkshire, Glaswegian, Brummie, Welsh, West Country, plus Irish English. Centuries of regional dialects feeding into modern British and Irish street talk.
See all British & Irish slang slang on Slangora.
Tags
Other words near "disallow" (D)
dirty weatherDISdisability sportdisabled sportdisaffirmancedisafforestdisbenchdischargedischargeantdischuffeddiscipledisciplinary inquiry
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