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 Although no one has ever been convicted under the 1799 Logan Act, Wallace’s talks with Gromyko severely tested its prohibition against U.S. citizens engaging in unauthorized negotiations with foreign governments. Benn Steil, Foreign Affairs, 19 Mar. 2024 However, the ruling did retain prohibitions against new uses of asbestos. Coral Davenport, New York Times, 18 Mar. 2024 Brunson now sees her mother’s embrace of a faith with strict prohibitions on drugs as a way of seeking safety. Molly Fischer, The New Yorker, 18 Mar. 2024 Some of the dispute between the IBEW Local 18 and the city attorney’s office boils down to whether the DWP is included in the city charter’s prohibition against taking another city job after retirement. Caroline Petrow-Cohen, Los Angeles Times, 15 Mar. 2024 That came after a previous federal judge’s ruling that the Texas law violated the U.S. Constitution’s First Amendment prohibition against free-speech restrictions. Todd Spangler, Variety, 14 Mar. 2024 The suit challenges only the prohibition on the billy and not the other weapons listed in the same statute. Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Feb. 2024 The legal campaign offers the most immediate test for one of Biden’s prized legislative accomplishments, which relaxed a longtime prohibition against Medicare negotiating drug costs directly with manufacturers. Tony Romm, Washington Post, 11 Mar. 2024 To be relevant under such an analysis, the high court said, a law or similar prohibition would have to date back to either 1791, when the 2nd Amendment was adopted, or 1868, when the 14th Amendment and its related due process protections were adopted. Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 28 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'prohibition.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Dictionary Entries Near prohibition

Cite this Entry

“Prohibition.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prohibition. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

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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