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

Daley, unusually for the time, was relatively open about being gay—protected from the legal prohibition on homosexuality by his position in law enforcement. —Rebecca Mead, The New Yorker, 18 Sep. 2023

The prohibition also does not allow for police to initiate a traffic stop. —Paul Gattis | [e-mail], al, 14 Sep. 2023

While protecting youths from unlawful possession of guns and protecting citizens from gun violence are substantial interests of the state of California, that’s not enough to support the advertising prohibition, the appeals court ruled. —oregonlive, 13 Sep. 2023

San Diego Superior Court Judge Theodore Weathers allowed Cox to remain out of custody on the bail already posted but set certain conditions such as prohibitions against driving, requirements to wear alcohol- and drug-monitoring devices, and to continue his treatment. —City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Sep. 2023

Built in 1889, the basement of the home served as a speakeasy during the prohibition era, according to the Daily Hive. —Kelly Allen, House Beautiful, 7 Sep. 2023

Read more Despite prohibition, would-be buyers trying to snap up land burned in Maui wildfires. —USA TODAY, 4 Sep. 2023

The suits make a variety of constitutional claims, including that a requirement that drugmakers negotiate or pay a fine violates the Fifth Amendment’s prohibition on the taking of private property for public use without just compensation. —Rebecca Robbins, New York Times, 29 Aug. 2023

Murdock said clearer standards for indoctrination will help educators and officials to respond when material runs afoul of the prohibitions. —Josh Snyder, Arkansas Online, 24 Aug. 2023

See More

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing prohibition

• writ of 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