volstead act
C2Formal, Historical, Academic
Definition
Meaning
A specific piece of United States federal legislation that established the nationwide prohibition of alcoholic beverages from 1920 to 1933.
The law which implemented the Eighteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, officially named the National Prohibition Act. It is often used historically as a synonym for Prohibition-era legislation and serves as a metonym for the entire period of constitutional prohibition in the United States.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Proper noun, always capitalized. It refers to a specific, singular historical statute. It can be used to evoke the entire socio-cultural period of Prohibition (1920-1933).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is primarily used in an American historical context. In British English, it is understood as a foreign historical term and is less frequently encountered outside of discussions of American history.
Connotations
In American English, it connotes a failed social experiment, the rise of organized crime, and cultural rebellion. In British English, it is a more neutral historical reference to an American policy.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in general discourse, but appears in academic/historical texts. Higher frequency in American English historical discussions than in British English.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
The Volstead Act + verb (was passed, prohibited, defined)Subject + under + the Volstead ActVerb + the Volstead Act (to repeal, to enforce)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A modern-day Volstead Act (referring to any overly strict, widely-flouted regulation)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. May appear in discussions of regulatory history or the alcohol/tobacco industries.
Academic
Standard term in American history, political science, and legal studies texts.
Everyday
Virtually never used in casual conversation except in historical discussion.
Technical
Specific term in legal history and constitutional law.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- The Volstead-era speakeasy
- a Volstead-style policy
American English
- A Volstead-era gangster
- Volstead-enforcement officers
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The Volstead Act was a very old American law.
- The Volstead Act made alcohol illegal in the USA for many years.
- Despite the Volstead Act, many people continued to drink in secret bars called speakeasies.
- The enforcement of the Volstead Act proved notoriously difficult and gave rise to widespread bootlegging and organized crime.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'Vol-STEAD' as in 'taking a stand' for prohibition. Volstead Act = the law that took a stand against alcohol.
Conceptual Metaphor
LAW IS A CONTAINER (it contained/restricted alcohol consumption); FAILED POLICY IS A BURDEN (it was a law the nation struggled under).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not translate 'Act' as 'акт' in the sense of a deed. It is 'закон' (zakon) or specifically 'статут' (statut).
- Avoid interpreting 'Volstead' as having a meaningful root; it is a surname (Volstead).
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect capitalization ('volstead act')
- Using it as a common noun ('a volstead act')
- Confusing it with the 18th Amendment (the Amendment enabled prohibition; the Volstead Act defined and enforced it).
Practice
Quiz
What was the primary purpose of the Volstead Act?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it was effectively repealed by the 21st Amendment in 1933, which ended national Prohibition.
Andrew Volstead was a U.S. Representative from Minnesota who chaired the House Judiciary Committee and sponsored the National Prohibition Act.
The 18th Amendment to the Constitution established the prohibition of alcohol. The Volstead Act was the detailed federal statute that defined intoxicating liquor and set down the procedures and penalties for enforcing the Amendment.
Yes, though rarely. It can refer to any well-intentioned but ultimately unenforceable and counterproductive law or regulation.