prohibition

noun

pro·​hi·​bi·​tion ˌprō-ə-ˈbi-shən How to pronounce prohibition (audio)
also
ˌprō-hə- How to pronounce prohibition (audio)
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

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The divided panel also said West Virginia’s prohibition violated the Medicaid Act and the Affordable Care Act. Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 1 July 2025 The agreement involves provisions on territorial integrity and a prohibition of hostilities as well as the disengagement, disarmament and conditional integration of non-state armed groups. Chinedu Asadu, Los Angeles Times, 27 June 2025 Economists know land-use regulations that restrict the supply of housing—including minimum lot sizes, parking requirements, and prohibitions on apartments, duplexes, and other forms of multi-family housing—make housing more expensive. Adam A. Millsap, Forbes.com, 25 June 2025 The rule establishes prohibitions on road construction, road reconstruction and timber harvesting on 58.5 million acres of roadless areas throughout the National Forest System -- about a third of the total land within the system, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 24 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for prohibition

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of prohibition was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Prohibition.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prohibition. Accessed 15 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

prohibition

noun
pro·​hi·​bi·​tion ˌprō-ə-ˈbish-ən How to pronounce prohibition (audio)
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 How to pronounce prohibition (audio)
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 adjective
prohibitively adverb
prohibitory adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on prohibition

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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