interdict

An interdict is a legal and ecclesiastical term with several related but distinct meanings. Etymologically from the Latin interdicere, meaning “to forbid,” it denotes a formal prohibition issued by a court, a religious authority, or a governing body that restrains certain actions or rites.

In civil and common law traditions, an interdict is a court order that prevents or requires conduct to protect rights or prevent harm. It resembles an injunction but is used in some jurisdictions with specific rules and procedures. Typical forms prohibit certain acts or compel performance until a matter is resolved.

In the context of ecclesiastical law, particularly within the Roman Catholic Church during the Middle Ages, an interdict was a formal censure that suspended most public worship and the administration of sacraments in a territory, while individuals could remain subject to other penalties. It was often employed to pressure rulers to comply with papal authority; it did not automatically excommunicate all inhabitants.

Historically, interdicts were powerful political tools and have appeared in various religious and constitutional disputes. In modern military and international usage, the related term interdiction refers to measures intended to halt or disrupt enemy movement or supply lines, such as air interdiction.

Today the term is specialized: in law it denotes a restraining order or injunction in some systems, while in canon law it remains a historical or occasionally still-declared sanction. The precise meaning depends on jurisdiction and context.