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
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 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
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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
Cite this Entry
“Prohibition.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prohibition. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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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