prohibitionist: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
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Quick answer
What does “prohibitionist” mean?
A person who supports or advocates for prohibition, typically of alcohol or drugs.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person who supports or advocates for prohibition, typically of alcohol or drugs.
More broadly, someone who advocates for the prohibition of any activity or substance deemed harmful.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In American English, strongly tied to the Prohibition era (1920-1933); in British English, more general reference to anti-alcohol or temperance movements.
Connotations
US: historical significance; UK: moral or social reform.
Frequency
More common in American English due to historical prominence.
Grammar
How to Use “prohibitionist” in a Sentence
prohibitionist of [substance]prohibitionist against [activity]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “prohibitionist” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The law prohibits the sale of alcohol to minors.
American English
- The statute prohibits the distribution of controlled substances.
adverb
British English
- The taxes are prohibitively high.
American English
- The fees are prohibitively expensive.
adjective
British English
- The cost was prohibitive for most families.
American English
- The price is prohibitive, so we can't afford it.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used; may appear in discussions on industry regulations.
Academic
Common in historical and political studies, referring to movements like Prohibition.
Everyday
Infrequent; mostly in reference to historical events or moral debates.
Technical
Used in legal contexts concerning bans or prohibitions.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “prohibitionist”
- Spelling error: 'prohibionist'
- Using it as a verb, e.g., 'He prohibitionists' instead of 'He is a prohibitionist'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
A prohibitionist is a person who supports the prohibition of something, especially alcohol or drugs.
No, it is relatively uncommon and mostly used in historical or formal contexts.
Yes, it can refer to advocates for banning any activity, such as gambling or smoking.
Prohibition is the act of prohibiting, while a prohibitionist is a person who advocates for prohibition.
A person who supports or advocates for prohibition, typically of alcohol or drugs.
Prohibitionist is usually formal in register.
Prohibitionist: in British English it is pronounced /ˌprəʊ.ɪˈbɪʃ.ən.ɪst/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌproʊ.ɪˈbɪʃ.ən.ɪst/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Prohibitionist: Pro-hibit-ion-ist – someone who is for prohibiting things.
Conceptual Metaphor
Moral guardian
Practice
Quiz
What is a prohibitionist?