adj
Common
prohibited
pruh-HIH-bih-tihd
Prohibited (adj) means Officially forbidden or banned. Example: “Parking is prohibited on this side of the street.”
adj
1
Officially forbidden or banned.
"Parking is prohibited on this side of the street."
"Mobile phones are prohibited in the exam hall."
"Fireworks are prohibited within the city limits."
"Theater works and religious essays were the most prohibited literary genres"
— Germán Bleiberg, Dictionary of the literature of the Iberian peninsula (1993)
How to use prohibited
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishNot allowed, by rule or law.
Common pairings
strictly prohibited
prohibited items
prohibited from
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like prohibited.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Comparative
- more prohibited
- Superlative
- most prohibited
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Parking is _____ on this side of the street.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for prohibited
See all rhymes for prohibited →Frequently asked questions
What does “prohibited” mean?
The word “prohibited” means officially forbidden or banned. In plain terms, not allowed, by rule or law.
How do you pronounce “prohibited”?
“Prohibited” is pronounced pruh-HIH-bih-tihd (/pɹoʊˈhɪbɪtɪd/ in IPA).
How do you use “prohibited” in a sentence?
Here is “prohibited” used in a sentence: “Fireworks are prohibited within the city limits.”
What part of speech is “prohibited”?
“Prohibited” is an adjective.
Is “prohibited” a common word?
“Prohibited” is a fairly common word in modern English.
What is the difference between prohibited and forbidden?
Prohibited means officially forbidden — banned by a law, rule, or regulation — and is the word used in legal texts and on official signs. Forbidden is broader and can come from any authority, including a parent, a moral code, or a religion. "Smoking is prohibited" sounds official; "forbidden fruit" sounds moral or personal.
What is the difference between prohibited and restricted?
Prohibited items or actions are completely banned, with no permitted circumstances. Restricted ones are allowed only under certain conditions — with a permit, in limited quantities, or in designated areas. Airport security relies on exactly this distinction between prohibited and restricted items.
Do you say "prohibited from doing" or "prohibited to do"?
When a person is the subject, use "prohibited from" plus the -ing form: "visitors are prohibited from taking photos." An impersonal construction with "it" and an infinitive — "it is prohibited to take photos" — also occurs, but it sounds formal and bureaucratic. "He is prohibited to enter" is not standard English.
