prohibition

noun

pro·​hi·​bi·​tion ˌprō-ə-ˈbi-shən 

also

ˌprō-hə- 

1

: the act of prohibiting by authority

2

: an order to restrain or stop

3

often capitalized : the forbidding by law of the manufacture, transportation, and sale of alcoholic liquors except for medicinal and sacramental purposes

Synonyms

• banning
• barring
• enjoining
• forbidding
• interdicting
• interdiction
• outlawing
• prohibiting
• proscribing
• proscription

Examples of prohibition in a Sentence

the city's prohibition of smoking in restaurants

a prohibition against parking on the street

Recent Examples on the Web

Drone prohibitions go as far south as Hancocks Bridge and as far north as Cedar Grove and Clifton. —Jay Blackman, NBC News, 20 Dec. 2024

Ammunition Some people will find this an obvious prohibition, but many, many people still bring ammunition in their carry-ons. —Billie Cohen, AFAR Media, 19 Dec. 2024

The agency also focused its prohibition on just the lodging and live-event industries, not the fuller array of firms -- from airlines to internet giants -- that have similarly stoked public anger. —Tony Romm The Washington Post, arkansasonline.com, 18 Dec. 2024

There are however some nationwide prohibitions, such as alcohol, pet food and supplements. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 16 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing prohibition

• writ of prohibition

Kids Definition

prohibition

noun

pro·​hi·​bi·​tion ˌprō-ə-ˈbish-ən 

1

: the act of prohibiting

2

: an order forbidding something

3

often capitalized : the forbidding by law of the sale and manufacture of alcoholic beverages

Legal Definition

prohibition

noun

pro·​hi·​bi·​tion ˌprō-ə-ˈbi-shən 

1

a

: an extraordinary writ issued by a higher court commanding an inferior court to keep within its proper jurisdiction (as by ceasing a prosecution)

b

: an order to refrain or stop

2

a

: something (as a law) that prohibits a certain act or procedure

b

capitalized : the period from 1920 to 1933 in the U.S. when the manufacture, transportation, and sale of alcoholic liquors was prohibited by the Eighteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution

prohibitive

prō-ˈhi-bə-tiv 

adjective

prohibitively adverb

prohibitory

-ˈhi-bə-ˌtōr-ē 

adjective