prohibition

Universal Words noun 1 [U] the act of stopping sth being done or used, especially by law: the prohibition of smoking in public areas 2 [C] ~ (against / on sth) a law or a rule that stops sth being done or used: a prohibition against selling alcohol to people under the age of 18 * prohibitions on the possession of dangerous weapons 3 (Prohibition) [U] (in the US) the period of time from 1920 to 1933 when it was forbidden by law to make and sell alcoholic drinks