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
One is that prohibitions on gambling protect the integrity of athletic competitions and discourage athletes from partaking in a sports betting culture where data suggests numerous college students wager on sports.
—
Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 13 June 2026
More grounded than Scarface and tenfold beyond The Bonfire of the Vanities (1990), the film focuses on Eliot Ness' attempt to bring down Al Capone during the 1930s prohibition.
—Eric Farwell, Entertainment Weekly, 12 June 2026
But our children deserve more than prohibition alone.
—Belonging Forum, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026
The prohibition was not explicit.
—Ann Larson, Time, 11 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for prohibition
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Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 13 June 2026
More grounded than Scarface and tenfold beyond The Bonfire of the Vanities (1990), the film focuses on Eliot Ness' attempt to bring down Al Capone during the 1930s prohibition.
—Eric Farwell, Entertainment Weekly, 12 June 2026
But our children deserve more than prohibition alone.
—Belonging Forum, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026
The prohibition was not explicit.
—Ann Larson, Time, 11 June 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 17 Jun. 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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