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.
There is no prohibition against the Heat trading the 2025 first-round pick received from the Warriors. Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 21 Apr. 2025 Other bills introduced in Congress thus far have called for the prohibition of tax deductions or credits for marijuana businesses to continue, regardless of whether it is rescheduled. Addy Bink, The Hill, 20 Apr. 2025 Legal prohibitions stymied most of Trump’s maneuvers back then, and the Biden administration quickly reversed the steps Trump managed to take. Peter Elkind, ProPublica, 11 Apr. 2025 The prohibition, which did not apply to Jewish Israelis, remained in effect until March 2024. Asad Ghanem, Foreign Affairs, 9 Apr. 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 1 May. 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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