prohibit
verb
pro·hib·it prō-ˈhi-bət 
prə-
prohibited; prohibiting; prohibits
transitive verb
1
: to forbid by authority : enjoin
2
a
: to prevent from doing something
b
: preclude
Synonyms
- ban
- bar
- enjoin
- forbid
- interdict
- outlaw
- proscribe
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
The rules prohibit dating a coworker. The prison's electric fence prohibits escape.
Recent Examples on the Web The European Parliament in June backed a plan to effectively prohibit the sale of gas and diesel cars in the 27-nation European Union by 2035, and Canada has mandated the sale of zero-emission cars by the same year. 
Kathleen Ronayne, Anchorage Daily News, 26 Aug. 2022 No More campaign, an effort to prohibit NDAs in cases of discrimination and harassment at work. Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 13 June 2022 Both laws prohibit killing, selling or harming eagles, their nests, or eggs. Kolbie Peterson, The Salt Lake Tribune, 8 June 2022 Some of these laws prohibit parasailing in certain weather conditions and require operators to carry $2 million in liability coverage. Landon Mion, Fox News, 1 June 2022 The region’s success regulating billboards traces back to a 1981 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that gave San Diego the power to prohibit any new billboards based on city concerns about community aesthetics and traffic safety. San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 May 2022 The mayor did not cite any plans to prohibit downtown watch parties for Sunday afternoon’s Game 7. Chicago Tribune, 14 May 2022 In July, Bowman introduced the Restoring Artistic Protection Act, or RAP Act, to prohibit the use of lyrics in criminal and civil proceedings. Tat Bellamy-walker, NBC News, 1 Sep. 2022 The European Parliament in June backed a plan to effectively prohibit the sale of gas and diesel cars in the 27-nation European Union by 2035, and Canada has mandated the sale of zero-emission cars by the same year. Kathleen Ronayne, Anchorage Daily News, 26 Aug. 2022 See More
Kathleen Ronayne, Anchorage Daily News, 26 Aug. 2022 No More campaign, an effort to prohibit NDAs in cases of discrimination and harassment at work. Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 13 June 2022 Both laws prohibit killing, selling or harming eagles, their nests, or eggs. Kolbie Peterson, The Salt Lake Tribune, 8 June 2022 Some of these laws prohibit parasailing in certain weather conditions and require operators to carry $2 million in liability coverage. Landon Mion, Fox News, 1 June 2022 The region’s success regulating billboards traces back to a 1981 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that gave San Diego the power to prohibit any new billboards based on city concerns about community aesthetics and traffic safety. San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 May 2022 The mayor did not cite any plans to prohibit downtown watch parties for Sunday afternoon’s Game 7. Chicago Tribune, 14 May 2022 In July, Bowman introduced the Restoring Artistic Protection Act, or RAP Act, to prohibit the use of lyrics in criminal and civil proceedings. Tat Bellamy-walker, NBC News, 1 Sep. 2022 The European Parliament in June backed a plan to effectively prohibit the sale of gas and diesel cars in the 27-nation European Union by 2035, and Canada has mandated the sale of zero-emission cars by the same year. Kathleen Ronayne, Anchorage Daily News, 26 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Latin prohibitus, past participle of prohibēre to keep off, from pro- forward + habēre to hold — more at pro-, give
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Kids Definition
prohibit
verb
pro·hib·it prō-ˈhi-bət
prohibited; prohibiting
1
: to forbid by authority
Parking is prohibited.
2
: to make impossible
The high walls prohibit escape.
prohibits
verb
as in forbids
to order not to do or use or to be done or used the city prohibits swimming in the lake after dark Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- forbids
- bans
- outlaws
- prevents
- discourages
- proscribes
- enjoins
- halts
- excludes
- bars
- stops
- precludes
- interdicts
- deters
- restrains
- dissuades
- disallows
- curbs
- impedes
- suppresses
- deprives
- inhibits
- represses
- quashes
- hinders
- blocks
- silences
- rejects
- obstructs
- subdues
- debars
- squelches
- quells
- rules out
- squashes
- vetoes
- embargoes
- shuts out
- repudiates
- checks
- cracks down (on)
- clamps down (on)
- bridles
- crushes
- puts down
- snuffs (out)
- reins (in)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- permits
- allows
- authorizes
- approves
- endorses
- lets
- suffers
- supports
- promotes
- encourages
- indorses
- sanctions
- furthers
- warrants
- advances
- licenses
- cultivates
- nurtures
- abets
- nourishes
- orders
- forwards
- tolerates
- commands
- endures
- bids
- bears
- abides
- licences
- brooks
- countenances