Amazon Restricted Keywords: What Not to Put in Your Listing

Amazon restricts certain keywords in listing titles, bullets, descriptions, and backend search terms. Using restricted keywords can cause listing suppression, policy violations, or Account Health warnings. Categories of restricted keywords: Competitor brand names — using competitor brand names anywhere in your listing content or backend keywords is prohibited by trademark policy. The only exception is factual compatibility claims in product descriptions. Drug and health claim terms — words like "treats," "cures," "prevents," "heals," and disease names (diabetes, cancer, etc.) are restricted in health product listings. These terms trigger drug claim violations. Prohibited product-related terms — in specific categories, certain terms indicate restricted products (certain weapons components, restricted chemicals, controlled substances). Amazon-trademarked terms — you cannot use "Prime," "Amazon," or other Amazon trademarks in your listing. Subjective superlatives — "World's best," "Number one" (without a verified source), "The best on Amazon" are technically restricted as unverifiable claims. How to find restricted keywords specific to your category: search for your product type in Amazon's Seller Central Help and look for category-specific content guidelines. Run your listing through a compliance checker. Review your Account Health for any keyword-related violations that have been flagged. What to use instead of restricted terms: replace competitor names with factual descriptions of compatibility; replace drug claim language with structure/function claims ("supports healthy joints" instead of "treats arthritis"); replace unverifiable superlatives with specific, verifiable differentiators.