A prohibition is a law or rule forbidding something.
...a prohibition on discrimination. [+ on]
...prohibitions against feeding birds at the airport. [+ against]
2. See also prohibit
Prohibition
uncountable noun
In the United States, Prohibition was the law that prevented the manufacture, sale, and transporting of alcoholic drinks between 1919 and 1933. Prohibition also refers to the period when this law existed.
prohibition in British English
(ˌprəʊɪˈbɪʃən)
noun
1.
the act of prohibiting or state of being prohibited
2.
an order or decree that prohibits
3. (sometimes capital)
(esp in the US) a policy of legally forbidding the manufacture, transportation, sale, or consumption of alcoholic beverages except for medicinal or scientific purposes
4. law
an order of a superior court (in Britain the High Court) forbidding an inferior court to determine a matter outside its jurisdiction
Derived forms
prohibitionary (ˌprohiˈbitionary)
adjective
Prohibition in British English
(ˌprəʊɪˈbɪʃən)
noun
the period (1920–33) when the manufacture, sale, and transportation of intoxicating liquors was banned by constitutional amendment in the US
Derived forms
Prohibitionist (ˌProhiˈbitionist)
noun
prohibition in American English
(ˌproʊəˈbɪʃən; ˌproʊhɪˈbɪʃən)
noun
1.
a prohibiting or being prohibited
2.
an order or law that forbids
3. US
the forbidding by law of the manufacture, transportation, and sale of alcoholic beverages
4. [P-]
in the U.S., the period (1920-1933) of prohibition (sense 3) by federal law
Word origin
ME prohibicion < MFr prohibition < L prohibitio
Examples of 'prohibition' in a sentence
prohibition
The security policy should include a clear prohibition on employees working from home unless sufficient safeguards (to be detailed in the policy) are put in place.
Computing (2010)
The security policy should include a clear prohibition on employees working from homeunless sufficient safeguards (to be detailed in the policy) are put in place.
Computing (2010)
The procedure will also test whether an offender is abiding by other restrictions such as a prohibition on drinking alcohol.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
So one senses the beginning of an end to the era of marijuana prohibition in America.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Their pressure ensured that the Bill included specific prohibition on academic selection.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
The American experiment with the prohibition of alcohol was a failure and short-lived.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Prohibition of alcohol was immensely popular - from right to left - when it was introduced.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The prohibition was absolute, irrespective of the victim's conduct or national security.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
It was the Prohibition era, so all the gambling and the drinking took place in back rooms.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
In other languages
prohibition
British English: prohibition NOUN
A prohibition is a law or rule forbidding something.
...a prohibition on discrimination.
American English: prohibition
Brazilian Portuguese: proibição
Chinese: 禁令
European Spanish: prohibición
French: interdiction
German: Verbot
Italian: proibizione
Japanese: 禁止法
Korean: 금지법
European Portuguese: proibição
Latin American Spanish: prohibición
(noun)
Definition
an order or decree that forbids
a comprehensive prohibition of nuclear weapons
Synonyms
ban
The General also lifted a ban on political parties.
boycott
embargo
The UN has imposed an arms embargo against the country.
bar
veto
congressmen who tried to override the president's veto of the bill
prevention
exclusion
They demand the exclusion of persistent cheats.
injunction
disqualification
He faces a four-year disqualification from athletics.
interdiction
interdict
The government has placed an interdict on fishing within territorial waters.
proscription
the proscription of all customs not conforming to religious law
disallowance
forbiddance
restraining order (US law)
Additional synonyms
in the sense of disqualification
He faces a four-year disqualification from athletics.
Synonyms
ban,
exclusion,
elimination,
rejection,
ineligibility,
debarment,
disenablement,
disentitlement
in the sense of embargo
Definition
an order by a government or international body prohibiting trade with a country
The UN has imposed an arms embargo against the country.
Synonyms
ban,
bar,
block,
barrier,
restriction,
boycott,
restraint,
check,
prohibition,
moratorium,
stoppage,
impediment,
blockage,
hindrance,
interdiction,
interdict,
proscription,
rahui (New Zealand)
in the sense of exclusion
They demand the exclusion of persistent cheats.
Synonyms
ban,
bar,
veto,
refusal,
boycott,
embargo,
prohibition,
disqualification,
interdict,
proscription,
debarment,
preclusion,
forbiddance,
nonadmission
Synonyms of 'prohibition'
prohibition
Explore 'prohibition' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of interdict
Definition
an official prohibition or restraint
The government has placed an interdict on fishing within territorial waters.
Synonyms
ban,
veto,
prohibition,
taboo,
disqualification,
interdiction,
disallowance,
restraining order (US)
in the sense of proscription
the proscription of all customs not conforming to religious law
Synonyms
prohibition,
ban,
damning,
dooming,
boycott,
embargo,
rejection,
condemnation,
censure,
denunciation,
interdict
in the sense of veto
Definition
the exercise of this power
congressmen who tried to override the president's veto of the bill