prohibition

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

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

In 2016, Obama opted to quadruple the site's size to protect the 7,000 species that live in the monument's boundaries, as well as to extend prohibitions on commercial fishing and extractive activities (E&E Daily, Aug. 26, 2016).

— jennifer yachnin, Science | AAAS, "Trump team nears decision on national monuments," 18 Aug. 2017
Property taxes: There’s a constitutional prohibition on the state levying a property tax, but property taxes are a major source of revenue that keeps cities, counties and special-purpose districts operating.

— star-telegram, "Here’s what happened to Abbott’s agenda during the special session," 16 Aug. 2017
The foundation has a new board of directors and has adopted reforms such as a first-ever line-item budget and prohibition on the university president also running the foundation.

— andrew wolfson, The Courier-Journal, "U of L moves closer to suing former president, foundation officers," 10 Aug. 2017
On March 17, the office received a complaint about the prohibition of firearms at the Hoover Public Library.

— jonece starr dunigan, AL.com, "Mobile senior center, Hoover library, 3 other locations investigated for gun law violations," 4 Aug. 2017
The ban takes effect immediately and state environmental police will be enforcing the prohibition, with violators subject to being ticketed for an infraction and fined $75, state officials said.

— gregory b. hladky, courant.com, "State Expands Alcohol Bans At State Parks," 3 Aug. 2017
That said, any form of prohibition poses a few obvious questions, starting with the legal one.

— john sedgwick, vanityfair.com, "What’s Really Behind the Civil War to End Harvard’s Fraternities?," 2 Aug. 2017
Meanwhile, energy companies stepped up their lobbying in opposition to a prohibition against working on international projects with even a small Russian stake.

— anna edgerton, Bloomberg.com, "House Poised to Add Russia Sanctions With Curbs on Trump’s Power," 25 July 2017
Indeed, the prohibition stretches pretty far back, all the way to King Henry VIII.

— robert bateman, Esquire, "What to Know About Article 88 Should Trump Begin to Melt Down," 13 July 2017

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

prohibition Synonyms

Synonyms

banning, barring, enjoining, forbidding, interdicting, interdiction, outlawing, prohibiting, proscribing, proscription

Antonyms

prescription

Related Words

bidding, charging, decreeing, dictation, direction, instruction; deterrence, discouragement, dissuading; repression, suppression; coercion, compulsion, constraint, force

Near Antonyms

allowance, permission, sufferance, toleration; approval, endorsement (also indorsement); authorization, clearance, license (or licence), sanction; encouragement, promotion, support; compliance, obedience, submission

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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