prohibition

noun

pro·​hi·​bi·​tion ˌprō-ə-ˈbi-shən How to pronounce prohibition (audio)
also
ˌprō-hə- How to pronounce prohibition (audio)
Synonyms of prohibitionnext
1
: the act of prohibiting by authority
2
: an order to restrain or stop
3
often Prohibition : the forbidding by law of the manufacture, transportation, and sale of alcoholic liquors except for medicinal and sacramental purposes

Synonyms of prohibition

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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.
Although the prohibition started as a safety measure, subsequent defenses of the law have included protecting accessibility, independent gas stations and attendant jobs. — Brian Delp, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026 The district court held in August 2024 that the SCOPE Act’s monitoring and filtering requirement is preempted by Section 230’s prohibition on treating interactive computer services as the publisher or speaker of information provided by someone else. — Jon Brodkin, ArsTechnica, 27 July 2026 Unfortunately, that also unleashed endless talk, not only about restaurants, but also about diets, nutrition, gastric symptoms, preferences, prohibitions and other unappetizing subjects. — Judith Martin, Mercury News, 27 July 2026 United Nations experts have said no other country imposes a comparable nationwide prohibition on women participating in sports. — Dan Zaksheske Outkick, FOXNews.com, 26 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for prohibition

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of prohibition was in the 15th century

Phrases Containing prohibition

Rhymes for prohibition

See All Rhymes for prohibition

Browse Nearby Words

prohibiter
prohibition
prohibitionist
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Cite this Entry

“Prohibition.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prohibition. Accessed 1 Aug. 2026.

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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
prō-ˈhi-bə-tiv How to pronounce prohibition (audio)
adjective
prohibitively adverb
prohibitory
-ˈhi-bə-ˌtōr-ē How to pronounce prohibition (audio)
adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on prohibition

Nglish: Translation of prohibition for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about prohibition

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