prohibit

prohibit — verb

1. to give an official order, usually through a rule or law, that makes a specific

1.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to give an official order, usually through a rule or law, that makes a specific action or activity illegal or not permitted.

Example

The new law strictly prohibits smoking inside all public buildings.

prohibit + noun phrase (active voice with legal subject)

Airline passengers are prohibited from carrying liquids over 100 milliliters in their hand luggage.

passive: be prohibited from + verb-ing

Common collocations
  • strictly prohibited
  • prohibited by law
  • expressly prohibited
  • prohibit the use / sale / possession of
Synonyms
  • forbid

    less formal than prohibit; can be used for personal authority (a parent forbids) as well as official rules

  • ban

    stronger sense of complete elimination; often used for substances, products, or activities

  • outlaw

    specifically means to make something illegal by passing a new law

  • bar

    suggests blocking someone from entering a place or participating in an activity

Antonyms
  • allow

    to permit something to happen

  • permit

    more formal than allow; often used in official contexts

Grammar Patterns

prohibit + noun phrase

prohibit + object + from + gerund

be prohibited + from + gerund

Usage Note

This sense appears most frequently in the passive voice (be prohibited from doing something). In active constructions, the subject is usually an official body, a law, or a regulation. Never use to + infinitive after prohibit — always use from + gerund.

Common Mistakes

The school prohibited students to use phones in class.
The school prohibited students from using phones in class.
After prohibit, always use from + gerund, not to + infinitive.

2. to create conditions or circumstances that make it impossible for a particular t

2.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to create conditions or circumstances that make it impossible for a particular thing to happen or to be carried out.

Example

The heavy snowfall prohibited any further travel that evening.

prohibit + noun phrase (impersonal/weather subject)

Ravindra's visa restrictions prohibited him from taking the job offer abroad.

prohibit + object + from + verb-ing

Common collocations
  • effectively prohibit
  • prohibit any chance / possibility of
  • prohibit further progress / development
Synonyms
  • prevent

    less formal and more common; can be used for both intentional and circumstantial blocking

  • hinder

    suggests making something difficult rather than completely impossible

  • preclude

    more formal than prohibit; suggests that something is ruled out in advance by circumstances

Antonyms
  • enable

    to make something possible or achievable

  • facilitate

    to make a process easier or more likely to happen

Grammar Patterns

prohibit + noun phrase

prohibit + object + from + gerund

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

Prohibit, forbid, ban, outlaw, and bar all mean to stop something from happening by authority, but they differ in context and formality. Prohibit is the most formal and typically refers to official rules or laws issued by institutions — smoking is prohibited in hospitals. Forbid is less formal and can be used for personal authority — a parent forbids a child from staying out late. Ban suggests a stronger, more comprehensive exclusion, often of a substance or activity — the country banned single-use plastic bags. Outlaw specifically means to make something illegal through a new law — the practice was outlawed in 1995. Bar focuses on blocking a person from entry or participation — the lawyer was barred from practicing for misconduct. Choose prohibit in formal written rules; choose forbid for personal or less formal situations; choose ban for complete elimination of a thing or practice.

prohibit ↗forbid ↗ban ↗outlaw ↗bar ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • prohibit someone from
  • prohibited by
  • prohibit the use of

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Prohibit comes from the Latin verb 'prohibēre', meaning 'to hold back' or 'to keep off'. It is formed from the prefix 'pro-' (away, in front) and the verb 'habēre' (to hold). The word entered English through Middle French in the early 1400s, originally carrying the sense of 'to keep in check'. By the 1500s it had developed its modern meaning of forbidding something by official rule or authority.