prohibition

noun pro·hi·bi·tion \ ˌprō-ə-ˈbi-shən also ˌprō-hə- \

|Updated on: 21 Jul 2018

Examples: prohibition in a Sentence

Definition of prohibition

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

See prohibition defined for English-language learners

See prohibition defined for kids

Examples of prohibition in a Sentence

the city's prohibition of smoking in restaurants
a prohibition against parking on the street

Recent Examples of prohibition from the Web

The prohibition of e-cigarettes represents the last piece in a three-part package aiming to increase public health by limiting tobacco use.

— ahmed elbenni, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Ban on e-cigarettes in Milwaukee takes effect -- what you need to know," 10 July 2018
As the courthouse clock struck 12, glasses were lifted and toasts drunk to the days when King Booze reigned supreme and prohibition was a joke.

— sandiegouniontribune.com, "July 1, 1919: Prohibition begins," 1 July 2018
But in this case, the prohibition is against any drone flights within 400 feet of the federal facilities.

— bart jansen, USA TODAY, "FAA prohibits drone flights over federal prisons, Coast Guard bases," 26 June 2018
Apart from open defiance, the second-best way to resist Chicagoans' pointless prohibition of ketchup on a hot dog is with mockery.

— mike sula, Chicago Reader, "Chicagoland / Food & Drink / Food Chain Troll the Chicago hot dog fascists with this T-shirt," 25 June 2018
Ohio officials argued that this prohibition doesn’t apply to the Supplemental Process because the state mails notices to voters before striking them from the rolls.

— matt ford, The New Republic, "Losing the Right Not to Vote," 11 June 2018
The prohibition applies to a 5-mile (8-kilometer) radius around the crater.

— Bloomberg.com, "'Excited And Scared': Hawaii Volcano Spews Huge Cloud of Ash," 18 May 2018
The prohibition applies to a 5-mile radius around the crater.

— CBS News, "Kilauea opens new fissure, spews more lava and toxic gas," 18 May 2018
The prohibition applies to all people and companies subject to U.S. jurisdiction.

— matthew lee, Houston Chronicle, "Trump bans U.S. use of Venezuelan cryptocurrency," 19 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'prohibition.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of prohibition

14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

prohibition Synonyms

Other Drug/Tobacco Terms

controlled, flake, herb, key, sodden

PROHIBITION Defined for English Language Learners

prohibition

noun

Definition of prohibition for English Language Learners

: the act of not allowing something to be used or done
: a law or order that stops something from being used or done
Prohibition : the period of time from 1920 to 1933 in the U.S. when it was illegal to make or sell alcohol

PROHIBITION Defined for Kids

prohibition

noun pro·hi·bi·tion \ ˌprō-ə-ˈbi-shən \

Definition of prohibition for Students

1 : the act of making something illegal or impossible

2 : the forbidding by law of the sale or manufacture of alcoholic liquids for use as beverages

Law Dictionary

prohibition

noun pro·hi·bi·tion \ ˌprō-ə-ˈbi-shən \

legal Definition of prohibition

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

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