Amazon banned words list
Most suppressions are not mysterious. They come from a small set of claim types that Amazon treats as risky. This page lists them by category, explains why each one is a problem, and gives a replacement that survives review.
Updated 2026-11 · Rule sources: Amazon listing policy + repeated-word requirement effective 21 Jan 2025
1. Medical and health claims
Anything that implies your product diagnoses, treats, cures, or prevents a condition needs regulatory evidence you probably do not have. This is the fastest way to get a listing pulled, and the one most likely to escalate beyond a suppression.
| Risky | Why | Safer |
|---|---|---|
cure, treat, heal | Drug/medical device claim | Describe the mechanism: "supports", "designed for" |
FDA approved | Only true with a registration number | Name the actual certification you hold |
antibacterial, kills 99.9% of germs | Requires EPA/regulatory registration in most markets | Remove unless registered |
clinically proven | Requires the study; you will be asked for it | Quote the study size and outcome instead |
detox, medical grade | Undefined, treated as a claim | Remove |
2. Absolute claims
Superlatives are unverifiable by definition. Amazon does not require a competitor to complain — the words themselves are the violation.
| Risky | Why | Safer |
|---|---|---|
best, #1, top rated | Unverifiable superiority claim | "rated 4.6 by 1,200 buyers" |
100% | Absolute guarantee; also ambiguous | State the material: "100% cotton" is a fibre content, not a performance claim — but expect scrutiny |
guaranteed, unbeatable | Promise you cannot keep | "5-year warranty" |
perfect, strongest, safest | Comparative without evidence | Give the number: "holds 22 lb" |
3. Promotional language
Titles and bullets are not ad copy. Price, shipping, and urgency belong in the promotion tools, not the listing.
| Risky | Why | Safer |
|---|---|---|
free shipping | Shipping terms are controlled by the marketplace | Remove |
sale, % off, discount | Price claims go stale and mislead | Remove |
buy now, limited time | Urgency language | Remove |
best seller, clearance | Badge claims Amazon controls | Remove |
4. Trademarks used as generic names
These are legally protected brand names. Using them to describe a generic product is trademark infringement, even if everyone does it in conversation.
| Do not write | Write instead |
|---|---|
| Velcro | hook-and-loop fastener |
| Teflon | non-stick coating |
| Band-Aid | adhesive bandage |
| Jacuzzi | hot tub |
| Frisbee | flying disc |
| Kleenex / Xerox / Photoshop | facial tissue / photocopier / image editing software |
Exception: "compatible with iPhone" is generally acceptable because it describes compatibility, not origin. "iPhone case" alone is riskier.
5. Unsubstantiated claims
These are not banned outright — they are banned without evidence. If you can prove it, keep it; if you cannot, replace it with a measurable property.
| Claim | What "proof" means |
|---|---|
eco-friendly, natural | Certification or material breakdown |
non-toxic, hypoallergenic | Test report from a recognised lab |
waterproof | An IP rating (IPX7, IP68) |
organic | Certifier name and certificate number |
6. The rule people forget: repeated words
Since 21 January 2025, Amazon limits how often the same word may appear in a product title. Listing the same noun four times to cover keyword variants now works against you: it reads badly and it is a style violation.
Example: Silicone Spatula Silicone Spoon Silicone Whisk Silicone Brush Set — one word, four times. Rewrite it as 4-Piece Silicone Utensil Set — Spatula, Spoon, Whisk, Brush.
Check your own listing
The free checker scans a title and five bullets against 63 of these terms, plus length, caps, keyword position, and repetition. It runs in your browser; nothing is uploaded.
FAQ
Is this list official?
No. It is a working list assembled from Amazon's published policies and the categories that most often trigger suppression. Policies vary by marketplace and change; verify in Seller Central before publishing.
Will removing these words hurt my ranking?
Usually the opposite. Keyword stuffing reduces readability and conversion; the words that get removed are mostly non-search terms like "best" and "free shipping".
What if my product really is FDA approved?
Then cite the registration. The problem is never the word itself, it is the claim without evidence.