ScienceJuly 26, 2026

debarment

di-BAR-ment

Definition

The official act of excluding, prohibiting, or disqualifying an individual or company from participating in government contracts or programs.

Etymology

The word is derived from the Middle French 'debarrer,' meaning to unbar or block, formed from the prefix 'de-' (off) and 'barrer' (to bar). It entered English to denote the legal or administrative act of blocking someone from a privilege or activity.

In the news

The article uses the term in the context of official government officials reviewing the conduct of the National Academy of Sciences, threatening to exclude them from federal support or collaboration.

American Nero: Why Trump is trying to burn down the National Academy of Sciences

Read the full article ↗

Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists

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