Prohibited 🚫

The prohibited emoji features a white circle with a diagonal line through it (sometimes shown as red or white depending on platform)—a minimalist symbol of negation that's both simple and unmistakable, effectively communicating "this is not allowed" across any language or culture.

While similar to the no entry sign, this symbol conveys a broader sense of general prohibition rather than specifically blocking access to a physical space. People use it to mark things as forbidden, not permitted, or against the rules: smoking prohibited, no phones allowed, swimming forbidden. In casual messaging, it functions as a quick visual way to say "nope," "don't do that," or "this is banned." It works for everything from humorous friend-group "rules" to serious public health warnings.

The emoji appears frequently in rule-setting contexts—online community guidelines, workplace policies, user agreements—where clarity and visual impact matter. Its simplicity makes it instantly readable, which is why it remains popular across diverse platforms and cultural contexts. The circular prohibition symbol resonates because it feels universally understood, transcending language barriers.

Approved as part of Unicode Emoji 0.6 in 2010, this prohibition symbol has maintained visual clarity across platforms, making it one of the most reliable symbols for communicating "not allowed" in digital spaces.