prohibition
B2Formal, Legal, Academic, Historical
Definition
Meaning
The act of officially forbidding something by law, rule, or authority.
A law, rule, or order that forbids a specific action or practice. It can also refer to the period in US history (1920-1933) when alcohol was nationally banned.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Implies a formal, often legal, ban issued by an authority. Stronger than a simple 'ban' as it is rooted in official decree. Not typically used for personal refusals.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In AmE, capitalized ('Prohibition') almost exclusively refers to the US historical period. In BrE, the capitalized form is also understood historically but more context-dependent.
Connotations
AmE has a strong historical/cultural connotation linked to the 1920s era, speakeasies, and organized crime. BrE leans more towards the general legal meaning.
Frequency
Higher frequency in AmE due to its fixed historical reference. Comparable frequency for the general legal sense.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
prohibition on (doing) somethingprohibition against somethingprohibition of somethingVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “The law is a prohibition, not a suggestion.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to bans on certain trade practices, insider trading, or conflicts of interest (e.g., 'a prohibition on the use of company data').
Academic
Used in legal, historical, and sociological texts discussing laws, taboos, or moral codes (e.g., 'the prohibition of certain speech acts').
Everyday
Used for formal rules (e.g., 'There's a prohibition on parking here at night.').
Technical
In law, a specific clause in a statute or constitution that forbids an action (e.g., 'The prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment.').
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The council voted to prohibit the sale of alcohol in the park.
- Smoking is prohibited throughout the terminal.
American English
- The statute prohibits discrimination on those grounds.
- The lease prohibits subletting the apartment.
adverb
British English
- The law functions prohibitively, stopping the activity entirely.
- The price was set prohibitively high.
American English
- The regulations were applied prohibitively, stifling innovation.
- The fees are prohibitively expensive for most.
adjective
British English
- The prohibitory order was issued by the court.
- They faced prohibitive costs to continue the case.
American English
- The prohibitive tax made the product too expensive.
- They enacted prohibitory legislation.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The sign shows a prohibition on swimming.
- There is a prohibition against phones in class.
- The government announced a prohibition on single-use plastics.
- During Prohibition, it was illegal to sell alcohol in the US.
- The treaty includes a strict prohibition on chemical weapons.
- Many argue that the prohibition of certain drugs has created more problems than it has solved.
- The constitutional prohibition against ex post facto laws is a cornerstone of legal fairness.
- Scholars debate the efficacy of prohibition as a social policy, citing the unintended consequences of the US alcohol ban.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'PROfessional HIBition' – a professional (official) inhibition or stopping of something.
Conceptual Metaphor
A BARRIER OR WALL (prohibition acts as a barrier to action). LAW IS A CONTAINER (prohibition defines the boundaries of the container of permissible actions).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid using 'prohibition' for a personal refusal ('отказ'). Use 'refusal'.
- Do not confuse with 'prevention' ('предотвращение'). Prohibition is about forbidding, not physically stopping.
- The Russian 'запрет' is a good equivalent for the core meaning, but lacks the specific historical AmE connotation.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: 'My dad gave a prohibition to go out.' (Correct: '...forbade me to go out' or '...imposed a prohibition on going out.')
- Incorrect preposition: 'prohibition for smoking' (Correct: 'prohibition on/against smoking').
- Overuse for simple, informal bans: 'There's a prohibition on talking in the library.' (Better: 'There's a ban/rule against...').
Practice
Quiz
In which context would 'Prohibition' most likely be capitalised?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
They are similar, but 'prohibition' is more formal and often implies a legal or official decree from an authority. A 'ban' can be more general and less formal.
'Prohibit' is formal/official. 'Forbid' is more personal or authoritative (can be used by parents, rules). 'Ban' is also official but can be slightly less formal than 'prohibit' and is often used for specific items or people.
It is named after the 18th Amendment to the US Constitution, which prohibited the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcoholic beverages. The era is defined by this nationwide legal prohibition.
Yes, but it still carries a sense of formality. For example, a 'cultural prohibition' refers to a strong, socially enforced taboo, not necessarily a written law.
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