Restricted Words in Amazon Listings - Cracking the Amazon Code

Cindy Jackson
Oct 22, 2023
3 min read

Part of the Mrs Prime Classics series - early seller experiences, revisited and refreshed for 2025.First published October 2023. Updated for the new Mrs Prime site, November 2025.

🔗 Quick link: Skip to the TL;DR ↓

Why Words Matter More Than You Think

Before you hit “publish” on your Amazon listing, there’s a hidden pitfall every seller needs to know about: restricted words.

Some words don’t just sound salesy — they can quietly kill your visibility. These are the phrases Amazon’s algorithms flag or suppress, even if your product is great. You might think “Best Seller” or “Top Quality” helps you stand out, but Amazon sees it as subjective or misleading.

Let’s crack the code and keep your listings compliant, factual, and fully visible.

The Hidden Trap: Overused and Forbidden Words

Amazon’s content filters are trained to detect certain types of language — mainly anything that sounds like a claim, opinion, or promise.

Here are some common examples of restricted or high-risk words:

Hot Sale 🔥
Top Seller 🏆
Best Sale 🌟
Free Expedited Shipping 🚚
Guaranteed Satisfaction 😊
Save 10% Discount 💰
Extremely High Quality 🌟
Just Arrived 🆕

You might not get suspended for using them, but your listing could lose visibility or be quietly suppressed in search results.

What to Do Instead

Stick to facts. Replace “Top Quality” with factual proof like “Made from 100% organic cotton” or “Tested to BS EN safety standards.”
Focus on benefits. Instead of “Best Seller,” try “Trusted by thousands of customers.”
Avoid subjective language. Amazon prefers data, features, and measurable qualities — not opinions or hype.
Use your keywords wisely. SEO-friendly, factual keywords (like material, purpose, or target user) perform better and keep you safe.

The Real Learning Curve

For many sellers, writing their own listings feels like a milestone. You might start out doing Retail Arbitrage (RA) or Online Arbitrage (OA), but the moment you create your own listings, everything changes.

You’re not just selling products anymore — you’re communicating value, trust, and compliance all at once. That’s where understanding restricted words becomes a competitive advantage.

Curious Where the List Came From?

The original list of restricted words was shared within the seller community years ago. Whether it came from Amazon support, internal documentation, or eagle-eyed sellers who compared notes, it remains one of the most useful “insider” resources around.

You can find the full updated list here:👉 Restricted Words Master List

TL;DR (Too Long; Didn’t Read)

What’s a TL;DR?It’s a quick-read summary for busy sellers and voice-search users - a short recap that gives you the essentials in a few lines.

Summary:Amazon filters out listings that use restricted words like “Best Seller,” “Guaranteed,” or “Hot Sale.” Stick to factual, benefit-led language and avoid hype terms. Write for humans, but check for compliance first — your visibility depends on it.

FAQs

Q: Will Amazon suspend me for using restricted words?

A: Not usually, but your listing can lose ranking or even disappear from search until it’s edited.

Q: Can I say “Top Rated” if my reviews are good?

A: Only if Amazon itself awards you that badge. Otherwise, it’s classed as a claim.

Q: Where can I check if a word is restricted?

A: There’s no official public list, but community-verified lists (like the one linked above) are a great reference point.

Tools and Resources Mentioned

Mrs Prime Software & Tools Reviews - Essential seller tools to improve listings and compliance.
Amazon Listing Policies - Official guidance on product detail page rules.
Helium 10 - For listing analysis and keyword research.
Canva - For clean, compliant visual assets and infographics.

Note (November 2025): This post reflects experiences and community insights from 2023. Amazon’s listing policies and restricted word rules evolve regularly — always check Seller Central for the latest guidance before publishing your listings.