prohibit

American  

[proh-hib-it] / proʊˈhɪb ɪt /

verb (used with object)

1. to forbid (an action, activity, etc.) by authority or law.

   Smoking is prohibited here.

   Synonyms:

   interdict

   Antonyms:

   permit

2. to forbid the action of (a person).

3. to prevent; hinder.

   Synonyms:

   obstruct

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prohibit British  

/ prəˈhɪbɪt /

verb

1. to forbid by law or other authority

2. to hinder or prevent

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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.

Related Words

See forbid.

Other Word Forms

• prohibiter noun
• prohibitor noun

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.

Example Sentences

"Our policies firmly prohibit any kind of child exploitation and we have extensive safety systems in place to help prevent user-to-user image sharing, limit chat for younger users, and block the sharing of personal information."

From BBC • Apr. 9, 2026

“Underlying all of this is the fact that U.S. sanctions, both from an executive-order perspective and also from a statutory perspective, would seemingly prohibit this type of arrangement.”

From MarketWatch • Apr. 9, 2026

The activists are securing signatures for a petition hoping to amend Ohio’s constitution to prohibit medium-to-large data centers over 25 megawatts.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 8, 2026

Anthropic’s guidelines prohibit its AI from facilitating violence, developing weapons, or conducting surveillance.

From Barron's • Mar. 27, 2026

Woodhull noted that the Constitution didn’t prohibit women from running for president, although they did not yet have the right to vote.

From "Votes for Women!" by Winifred Conkling

Related Words

• ban
• block
• constrain
• enjoin
• forbid
• freeze
• halt
• hinder
• impede
• inhibit
• outlaw
• preclude
• prevent
• proscribe
• restrain
• restrict
• rule out