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 Prohibition
: 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 prop bet prohibition was removed, in part, because of the fiscal impact, Ball said.
—
Noelle Phillips, Denver Post, 24 Apr. 2026
For his part, Marshall, who has served as an elder and a deacon in his own church, previously championed removing a federal prohibition on churches and other religious organizations directly engaging in political campaigns.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 24 Apr. 2026
But as Mackintosh persuasively illustrates, the familiar emotions of jealousy, infatuation and eventually indifference — these persist and can flourish in any relationship, however free of prohibition.
—Literary Hub, 23 Apr. 2026
Today, the Gatsby Suite and a menu of Prohibition-era cocktails keep that connection alive.
—Hillary Richard, Robb Report, 23 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for prohibition
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Noelle Phillips, Denver Post, 24 Apr. 2026
For his part, Marshall, who has served as an elder and a deacon in his own church, previously championed removing a federal prohibition on churches and other religious organizations directly engaging in political campaigns.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 24 Apr. 2026
But as Mackintosh persuasively illustrates, the familiar emotions of jealousy, infatuation and eventually indifference — these persist and can flourish in any relationship, however free of prohibition.
—Literary Hub, 23 Apr. 2026
Today, the Gatsby Suite and a menu of Prohibition-era cocktails keep that connection alive.
—Hillary Richard, Robb Report, 23 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for prohibition
Cite this Entry
“Prohibition.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prohibition. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids 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
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