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.
According to a memo from the General Services Administration dated Feb. 15 and reported this week by NPR, the Trump administration is no longer requiring explicit prohibitions on segregated facilities in new government contracts. Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA TODAY, 21 Mar. 2025 In the mid-2010s, the emergence of daily fantasy sports offered further evidence that a prohibition on legalized gambling was not working. Made By History, TIME, 20 Mar. 2025 The measure also adds other criminal offenses to Texas law, including prohibitions on marketing intoxicating hemp products to minors and possession of cannabinoid products other than CBD and CBG with intent to sell. A.j. Herrington, Forbes, 20 Mar. 2025 Hoffman's attorneys sought to stop the execution saying in court filings the method is unconstitutional, violating the Eighth Amendment's prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment. CBS News, 19 Mar. 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 26 Mar. 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!