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
Synonyms
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
An undisclosed official told the WSJ that many staff members interpreted the directive as a prohibition against throwing public events or issuing messages about the month and its historic Black figures.
—
Amber Corrine, VIBE.com, 29 Jan. 2025
However, village trustees did not appear to support a complete prohibition during a discussion at a Jan. 13 Committee of the Whole meeting.
—Daniel I. Dorfman, Chicago Tribune, 27 Jan. 2025
Cannabis attempted to become a model for addressing the harms of the U.S. drug war, implementing social equity programs that provide business licensing opportunities for those disproportionately affected by prohibition.
—Summer Westerbur, Rolling Stone, 27 Jan. 2025
Those conditions included a prohibition on engaging in transactions involving assets worth more than $1,000 and remaining under house arrest.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 24 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for prohibition 
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.
Amber Corrine, VIBE.com, 29 Jan. 2025
However, village trustees did not appear to support a complete prohibition during a discussion at a Jan. 13 Committee of the Whole meeting.
—Daniel I. Dorfman, Chicago Tribune, 27 Jan. 2025
Cannabis attempted to become a model for addressing the harms of the U.S. drug war, implementing social equity programs that provide business licensing opportunities for those disproportionately affected by prohibition.
—Summer Westerbur, Rolling Stone, 27 Jan. 2025
Those conditions included a prohibition on engaging in transactions involving assets worth more than $1,000 and remaining under house arrest.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 24 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for prohibition
Articles Related to prohibition
Dictionary Entries Near prohibition
Cite this Entry
“Prohibition.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prohibition. Accessed 8 Feb. 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share