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

But on Thursday, Gov. Gavin Newsom extended prohibitions on motel, hotel and rental housing to March 8. —Janie Har The Associated Press, arkansasonline.com, 20 Jan. 2025

However, privacy advocates say there would be problems with national legislation that could restrict states from passing tougher regulations, like state privacy protections and prohibitions on driving data being given to insurance companies, as California does. —Cnn.com, The Mercury News, 16 Jan. 2025

And more relief should soon be on the way — Governor Gavin Newsom recently issued an executive order to expedite temporary housing for wildfire evacuees, streamline the construction of accessory dwelling units, and extend the prohibition of price gouging. —Mae Hamilton, Travel + Leisure, 16 Jan. 2025

After Trump won in November, the Department of Justice dropped the case, citing the Constitution’s prohibition on indicting or prosecuting a sitting president. —Julia Coin, Charlotte Observer, 16 Jan. 2025

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