prohibition
proh-ih-BIH-shuhn
Prohibition (noun) means an act of forbidding something, or a rule that forbids it. Example: “There is a strict prohibition on smoking inside the building.”
noun
1
An act of forbidding something, or a rule that forbids it.
"There is a strict prohibition on smoking inside the building."
"The sign announced a prohibition on swimming in the lake."
"Appeals courts, including the 5th Circuit, have in the past upheld the federal ban in question. But more recently, some courts have shown hostility towards gun prohibitions aimed at 18- to 20-year-olds."
— Tierney Sneed, Federal law banning handgun sales 18- to 20-year-olds is unconstitutional, appeals court rules (2025)
"But the prohibition on active advocacy and participation left a wide margin of allowable activity and was open to interpretation."
— Oren Liebermann, Pentagon defines prohibited behavior in effort to tackle extremism (2021)
"The prohibition on late-night deliveries frustrated local businesses."
2
A period during which the making and selling of alcohol was made illegal.
"Many films about Prohibition show hidden bars behind ordinary shop doors."
"My grandfather loves reading about Prohibition and the secret drinking clubs."
"Speakeasies flourished in the United States during Prohibition."
How to use prohibition
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAn official ban, or (capitalized) the historical era when alcohol was banned in the US.
Common pairings
a prohibition against
lift a prohibition
during Prohibition
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Word forms
- Plural
- prohibitions
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There is a strict _____ on smoking inside the building.
Etymology
From Latin prohibitio, from prohibeo, "to forbid, prevent."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for prohibition
region
ablation
allusion
emulsion
ideation
novation
diffusion
elocution
extension
oxidation
perfusion
selection
See all rhymes for prohibition →
Frequently asked questions
What does “prohibition” mean?
The word “prohibition” means an act of forbidding something, or a rule that forbids it. In plain terms, an official ban, or (capitalized) the historical era when alcohol was banned in the US.
How do you pronounce “prohibition”?
“Prohibition” is pronounced proh-ih-BIH-shuhn (/ˌpɹoʊ(h)ɪˈbɪʃən/ in IPA).
How do you use “prohibition” in a sentence?
Here is “prohibition” used in a sentence: “The prohibition on late-night deliveries frustrated local businesses.”
What is another word for “prohibition”?
Words with a similar meaning to “prohibition” include forbode.
What is the opposite of “prohibition”?
The opposite of “prohibition” — its antonyms — is permission.
What part of speech is “prohibition”?
“Prohibition” is a noun.
Where does the word “prohibition” come from?
The word “prohibition” comes from Latin. From Latin prohibitio, from prohibeo, "to forbid, prevent.".
Is “prohibition” a common word?
“Prohibition” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between prohibition and restriction?
Prohibition means something is completely forbidden, with no allowance made for it, while a restriction limits how, when, or how much something can be done without banning it outright. A restriction on alcohol sales might limit hours, whereas a prohibition would ban sales entirely.
Why is Prohibition capitalized when talking about American history?
When capitalized, Prohibition refers specifically to the historical period when the making and selling of alcohol was made illegal in the United States. The lowercase word prohibition refers more generally to any act or rule of forbidding something.
What is the difference between prohibition and ban?
Prohibition and ban are close synonyms, both describing something made illegal or forbidden. Ban is the more common everyday word, while prohibition is often used in more formal, legal, or historical contexts.
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