prohibition

noun

pro·​hi·​bi·​tion ˌprō-ə-ˈbi-shən How to pronounce prohibition (audio)
also
ˌprō-hə- How to pronounce prohibition (audio)
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

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 The legal campaign offers the most immediate test for one of Biden’s prized legislative accomplishments, which relaxed a longtime prohibition against Medicare negotiating drug costs directly with manufacturers. Tony Romm, Washington Post, 11 Mar. 2024 To be relevant under such an analysis, the high court said, a law or similar prohibition would have to date back to either 1791, when the 2nd Amendment was adopted, or 1868, when the 14th Amendment and its related due process protections were adopted. Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 28 Feb. 2024 Taylor said Wednesday that the party last year issued a prohibition on working with Grassroots Resources. Tammy Murga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Feb. 2024 DeSantis has said the prohibition on foreign researchers is intended to keep spies from stealing technology from Florida universities. Michael Smith, Fortune, 27 Feb. 2024 The origins of the ending-preposition prohibition Among grammarians and lexicographers, Merriam-Webster's comments are widely accepted. Emma Bowman, NPR, 27 Feb. 2024 Palestinian representatives, will argue that Israel has violated the prohibition on territorial conquest by annexing large swaths of occupied land, has violated the Palestinians’ right to self-determination, and has imposed a system of racial discrimination and apartheid. NBC News, 19 Feb. 2024 The prohibitions at issue in the appeal are categorical, barring the practice everywhere. Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 26 Feb. 2024 But a federal judge in Idaho temporarily blocked the law days before it was set to be enforced and argued the prohibition likely violated the 14th Amendment. Ian Max Stevenson, Idaho Statesman, 21 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'prohibition.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of prohibition was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near prohibition

Cite this Entry

“Prohibition.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prohibition. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

prohibition

noun
pro·​hi·​bi·​tion ˌprō-ə-ˈbish-ən How to pronounce prohibition (audio)
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 How to pronounce prohibition (audio)
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 adjective
prohibitively adverb
prohibitory adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on prohibition

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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