English Reference
Verb

prohibit

v.
B2 Upper Intermediate Oxford US /pɹoʊˈhɪbət/ UK /pɹəhˈɪbɪt/ pro·hib·it UK spelling prohibiting, prohibits

v.to officially forbid something or make it illegal. You use this when a law or a rule says you cannot do a specific action.

v.to forbid something by authority, law, or regulation; to prevent an action from occurring. Transitive — requires a direct object.


SIMPLE

The new law will prohibit smoking in public parks.

CONTEXTUAL

The school rules strictly prohibit the use of mobile phones during final examinations to prevent cheating.

COMPLEX

While the constitution protects free speech, it does not prohibit the government from regulating the time and place of public demonstrations to ensure safety.

Usage

The verb is transitive and often follows the pattern 'prohibit something' or 'prohibit someone from doing something'.

Pitfall
The law prohibits to smoke hereThe law prohibits smoking here

Prohibit is followed by a gerund (-ing form) or a noun phrase, not an infinitive.

Usage prohibit use

As occupied land, international law prohibits Israel from settling it.

BBC News· 21 Aug 2026

South Carolina is the first state to pass a law that prohibits no-zero grading, allowing teachers to give below a minimum grade of 50 or 60.

The Conversation· 20 Jul 2026

From Middle English prohibiten, from Latin prohibeō (“I fend off, prevent, prohibit”) (through past participle prohibitus).

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin Latin prohibeō
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated