prohibit
Americanverb (used with object)
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prohibits,
present (3rd person singular)
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prohibited,
past participle, past
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prohibiting
present participle
verb
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to forbid by law or other authority
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to hinder or prevent
Usage
What’s the difference between prohibit and inhibit? Prohibit most commonly means to forbid or disallow, but it can also mean what inhibit usually means—to prevent or hinder. Inhibit can also mean to forbid, but this use is much less common. Prohibit is most commonly used in the context of rules, especially official ones like laws. The speed limit prohibits you from going above a certain speed. Parents might prohibit their kids from eating candy before dinner, but the word forbid is more commonly used in cases like this. Inhibit, on the other hand, is usually used in the context of things that prevent or hinder what someone is trying to do. Speed bumps are designed to inhibit speeding. A leg injury can inhibit your ability to walk. The meaning of prohibit and inhibit most often overlaps in cases when something is inhibited to the point of almost not being able to happen at all, as in This cast is designed to prohibit movement (prohibit could be replaced with inhibit in this sentence without much or any change in meaning). The adjective form inhibited is often used to indicate that someone or something is held back from full potential. When it’s applied to a person, it usually involves a mental, emotional, or psychological block, as in I feel less inhibited around my new group of friends—they accept me for who I am. The adjective prohibited describes something that’s forbidden, as in The sign lists all of the prohibited activities. Here’s an example of prohibit and inhibit used correctly in the same sentence. Example: To inhibit the acceleration of climate change, we must prohibit any increase in fossil fuel emissions. Want to learn more? Read the full breakdown of the difference between inhibit and prohibit.
Synonym Usage
See forbid.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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prohibitsimple
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prohibitssimple
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have prohibitedperfect
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has prohibitedperfect
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am prohibitingprogressive
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are prohibitingprogressive
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is prohibitingprogressive
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have been prohibitingperfect progressive
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has been prohibitingperfect progressive
Past
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prohibitedsimple
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had prohibitedperfect
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was prohibitingprogressive
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were prohibitingprogressive
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had been prohibitingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of prohibit
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Latin prohibitus, past participle of prohibēre “to hold before, hold back, hinder, forbid,” equivalent to pro- pro- 1 + -hibēre, combining form of habēre “to have, hold”; see habit 1
Explanation
If a sign says "Swimming Prohibited," don't go for a dip. It's not allowed. To prohibit is to forbid, or to disallow something. In school, you are prohibited from leaving the premises before the end of the school day. The school administration also prohibits smoking and chewing gum. In 1920, it became illegal to sell alcohol in the United States. This time period when alcohol was prohibited is known as the era of Prohibition. Famously Prohibition did not work. When you prohibit something, you often make it seem more appealing.
Vocabulary lists containing prohibit
The Bill of Rights
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List 14
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The First Amendment of the US Constitution
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Back in 2021, activists had successfully lobbied the state of New Jersey to prohibit municipal and county governments as well as private facilities from entering into new contracts with ICE to house immigration detainees.
From Salon ● Aug. 6, 2026
More than 106,000 people signed a petition, external calling for the Scottish government to prohibit the hunt.
From BBC ● Aug. 3, 2026
The bill would let Congress keep existing individual stocks but prohibit lawmakers, spouses and dependent children from buying new shares.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026
Austria and Slovenia are also preparing legislation to prohibit access for under-14s and under-15s, respectively.
From Barron's ● Jul. 21, 2026
For more about forbid and prohibit, see pages 114 and 116.
From "Woe Is I" by Patricia T. O'Conner
Cycling's world governing body the UCI's rule also says it prohibits clothing "not strictly necessary for the functionality of the clothing, or other item, or accessory".
From BBC ● Aug. 5, 2026
In Arizona, for example, “state law prohibits our department from a role overseeing private schools,” a spokesperson for the state Department of Education told ProPublica.
From Salon ● Jul. 27, 2026
The law also prohibits throwing a “stone, pellet, bullet, arrow or any other missile, in, over, across, along or upon any street or sidewalk or in any public park.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 23, 2026
A California federal judge granted a 14-day restraining order on Monday that prohibits the companies from closing the deal.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 22, 2026
I’m just hoping there’s an amendment somewhere in the Constitution that prohibits the FBI from stealing my collection of hardcover fantasy novels.
From "South of Somewhere" by Kalena Miller
Luria said in emailed comments that concerns about China’s advanced technology developments “may be more relevant to the Korean companies,” because most U.S. companies are prohibited from selling to Chinese customers.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 28, 2026
If the IRS determines a prohibited transaction occurred, it could invalidate the IRA, resulting in extremely unfavorable tax consequences.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 22, 2026
It’s a play on the word emolument, a gift from a foreign leader or domestic government that a president is prohibited under the Constitution from accepting.
From Slate ● Jul. 22, 2026
The 82-year-old couldn't believe it, then, when she found out last year that her Minnesota assisted living facility was prohibited from serving drinks to residents because it didn't have a licence.
From BBC ● Jul. 19, 2026
For the abolitionists, Congress prohibited slavery in the new state of California and the slave trade was banned in the capital District of Columbia.
From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock
The group said the investigation should examine whether Carr and Trusty broke rules on accepting gifts or broke criminal laws prohibiting federal officials from accepting illegal gratuities.
From Salon ● Aug. 4, 2026
In March, Greer’s office opened a tariff investigation into 60 economies it accused of not prohibiting the use of forced labor in supply chains.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 22, 2026
But there’s been a gradual return to prohibiting doctors from providing care to patients in states where they are not licensed to practice.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 18, 2026
For example, Spain wants to ban under-16s accessing social networks, while France proposes prohibiting children aged 15 and under.
From Barron's ● Jul. 13, 2026
Among its provisions are establishing a forty-hour work week and a national minimum wage as well as prohibiting oppressive child labor and most employment of minors.
From "1919 The Year That Changed America" by Martin W. Sandler
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
