no-smoking
UK[ˌnəʊ ˈsməʊkɪŋ]US[ˌnoʊ ˈsmoʊkɪŋ]
adj
Designating an area, sign, or policy that prohibits the act of smoking tobacco.
n
A rule or law that forbids smoking in a particular place.
Morpheme Breakdown
no
smoking
no
negative
smoking
act of inhaling smoke
Etymology
The compound 'no-smoking' is a modern English formation built from fundamental Germanic elements. The word 'no' descends from the Old English adverb 'nā', a combination of 'ne' (not) and 'ā' (ever), establishing a strong negation. 'Smoking' derives from the Old English verb 'smocian', meaning to emit smoke, which is linked to the noun 'smoca' (smoke). The compound directly and transparently conveys its meaning through a prohibitive adjective ('no') attached to the gerund form of the activity ('smoking'), creating a clear, rule-based label. Its widespread adoption as a standardized sign in the late 20th century reflects public health campaigns and legal restrictions on tobacco use in enclosed spaces.
Analysis
Structure: no (negative) + smoking (act of inhaling smoke)
- no: From Old English 'nā', meaning 'not, never'. A negative particle of denial, refusal, or prohibition.
- smoking: From the verb 'smoke', of Germanic origin, plus the suffix '-ing' which forms the gerund/noun indicating the action or process.
Examples
The restaurant has a strict no-smoking policy.
Please observe the no-smoking signs posted throughout the building.
The introduction of no-smoking areas in pubs was initially controversial.