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

Reports earlier this week suggested Chinese officials had been contemplating a prohibition on Hollywood features, which would have dealt a major blow to entertainment companies struggling to rebuild after the pandemic and labor strikes. —Kevinisha Walker, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2025

Weiss said the prohibition was part of the city’s liquor ordinance. —Steve Sadin, Chicago Tribune, 8 Apr. 2025

However, a final Medicare payment rule issued late Friday will maintain the current prohibition. —Nathaniel Weixel, The Hill, 4 Apr. 2025

The European Union has banned American beef made with growth hormones since 1989, when a prohibition on the production and importation of meat from animals treated with such hormones went into effect. —William Gavin, Quartz, 3 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing prohibition

• writ of prohibition

Rhymes for prohibition

• abolition
• acquisition
• admonition
• ammunition
• apparition
• apposition
• coalition
• competition
• composition
• definition
• deglutition
• demolition

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