prohibit
Americanverb (used with object)
-
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
-
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
-
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:
Employees at Google have told the BBC that staff are scared to speak out about AI safety and its uses in warfare because their employment contracts prohibit them from publicly criticising the company.
From BBC ● Oct. 21, 2026
The City Council unanimously approved a measure to prohibit the sale and distribution of nitrous oxide by cannabis and tobacco retailers.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 13, 2026
Federal medical privacy laws generally prohibit institutions from sharing patient information, and the center's website says it requires callers to provide a code determined by the patient.
From Barron's ● Oct. 12, 2026
District Court in Chicago, for example, is updating its insider-trading policies to prohibit employees from using on-the-job information to make prediction wagers.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 11, 2026
Forty-eight states and the District of Columbia prohibit people from voting while incarcerated for a felony offense.
From "The New Jim Crow" by Michelle Alexander
“The league’s firearm policy prohibits any personnel from bringing a firearm to club facilities, stadiums, and team hotels and on team planes or buses,” NFL spokesperson Brian McCarthy said in an email Wednesday.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 21, 2026
U.S. law generally prohibits government officials from working on matters where they retain a financial interest, said Cynthia Brown, senior ethics counsel for the government watchdog organization CREW.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 2026
Another federal law prohibits voter intimidation, with up to a yearlong prison sentence for anybody who intimidates, threatens, or coerces somebody else with the purpose of interfering with another person’s right to vote.
From Salon ● Oct. 8, 2026
EFL regulation 127, which prohibits any club from observing, or attempting to observe, another club's training session within 72 hours of a scheduled match between the two clubs.
From BBC ● Oct. 7, 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
Franchises who spend beyond it aren’t just taxed at more than 500%—they are also prohibited from constructing certain types of trades and restricted from signing certain categories of free agents.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 20, 2026
They were later arrested on suspicion of namely entering a prohibited place for a purpose prejudicial to the UK under Section 4 of the National Security Act.
From BBC ● Oct. 9, 2026
The news outlet also reviewed footage obtained from inside the correctional facility which showed Combs using a phone, a prohibited item across state and federal prisons.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 2, 2026
Commercial logos, banners and tent-like structures are also prohibited.
From Salon ● Sep. 27, 2026
There were superior orders that prohibited visits to prisoners condemned to death, but the officer assumed the responsibility of letting her have a fifteen-minute stay.
From "One Hundred Years of Solitude" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
The EFL fined Leeds £200,000 - which Bielsa said he paid - and introduced a rule prohibiting any club from observing a rival's training session within 72 hours of a match between them.
From BBC ● Oct. 7, 2026
Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman agreed to dismiss the criminal case against David Hearn with prejudice on Thursday, prohibiting the federal government from reviving the felony charge against him.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 1, 2026
Former Heisman-winning QB Jayden Daniels issues cease-and-desist letter to LSU prohibiting the school from using his name, image and likeness.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 21, 2026
Leaders can take a first step by prohibiting technology during meals, fitness or other routines.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 16, 2026
Any way he approached the question, he couldn’t see the logic in prohibiting calls.
From "Zeitoun" by Dave Eggers
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