What does prohibited mean?
Prohibited is an adjective meaning forbidden or not allowed, especially under a law, regulation, or official rule. It appears frequently in legal and institutional language, such as “prohibited substances,” “prohibited activities,” and “strictly prohibited.” The word is formal and often indicates that a prohibition is deliberate and authoritative rather than merely a personal preference. In everyday use, it can refer to anything disallowed by a clear policy, such as prohibited items in a venue or conduct forbidden by an employer. Compared with the broader word “forbidden,” prohibited often suggests a specific legal or regulatory restriction, although the distinction is not absolute. Prohibited is also commonly used in warnings, signs, and official notices. Its Latin roots connect it with words such as prohibit, prohibition, and prohibitive, all of which share the idea of holding something back or preventing an action.
adjectiveForbidden or not allowed, especially by law, regulation, or an official rule. It may also describe conduct or activity that is expressly disallowed.
- Forbidden or disallowed by law, regulation, or an explicit rule.
"Smoking is prohibited in the building."
"The advertisement was prohibited because it made misleading claims."
"Access to the restricted area is prohibited without prior authorization."
Prohibited began in Latin as an instruction to “hold back,” the same basic idea expressed by a barrier, a prohibition sign, or a firm no.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does prohibited come from?
The English adjective comes from the Latin past participle prohibitus of prohibere, “to forbid” or “to prevent.” Latin prohibere combines pro- with habere, “to hold,” and developed the sense of holding something back. English later established the form in legal and formal contexts, where it denotes conduct expressly forbidden.
How prohibited is actually used
This is a formal word, especially common in legal, regulatory, institutional, and public-safety contexts. It is also used more broadly for anything that official rules or clear policies disallow.
Easily confused with prohibited
Prohibited means forbidden by a rule or law, whereas prohibitive means so restrictive or costly that it discourages an activity.