prohibition
n. C / Un. a law or rule that stops people from doing something. When written with a capital letter, it refers to the time in U.S. history when making or selling alcohol was illegal.
n. the action of forbidding something, especially by law. When capitalised, it refers specifically to the period in the United States (1920–1933) during which the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcoholic beverages were constitutionally banned.
The school has a strict prohibition against smoking.
During Prohibition, many people visited secret bars called speakeasies to buy illegal drinks.
While the policy was intended to improve public morality, Prohibition ultimately led to a massive increase in organized crime as gangs fought for control of the underground liquor market.
Uncountable when referring to the general act of forbidding; countable when referring to a specific legal decree.