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prohibition

Pronunciation: /ˌprəʊhɪˈbɪʃ(ə)n, prəʊɪ-/
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Definition of prohibition

noun

[mass noun]
  • 1the action of forbidding something, especially by law:they argue that prohibition of drugs will always fail
  • [count noun] a law or regulation forbidding something:prohibitions on insider dealing
  • [count noun] English Law a writ from a superior court forbidding an inferior court from proceeding in a suit deemed to be beyond its cognizance.
  • 2 (Prohibition) the prevention by law of the manufacture and sale of alcohol, especially in the US between 1920 and 1933.

Derivatives

prohibitionary

adjective

Prohibitionist

noun

Origin:

late Middle English: from Old French, from Latin prohibitio(n-), from prohibere 'keep in check' (see prohibit)

prohibition in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of prohibition in the US English dictionary

Nearby words

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