prohibitionist

noun

pro·​hi·​bi·​tion·​ist ˌprō-ə-ˈbi-sh(ə-)nist How to pronounce prohibitionist (audio)
 also  ˌprō-hə-
plural prohibitionists
: one who favors prohibition
especially, Prohibitionist : a member of a U.S. political party advocating prohibition

Examples of prohibitionist in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The reporter, being a prohibitionist, disclaimed such desire, and suggested that a cigar would do. San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Apr. 2022 Some lawmakers, as well as nicotine industry supporters and harm reduction advocates, consider the recent federal approach prohibitionist and draconian. Jamie Ducharme, Time, 29 Apr. 2021 In 1937, the AMA's Legal Counsel Dr. William Woodward testified before Congress in strong and unequivocal opposition to the prohibitionist Marihuana Tax Act. David L. Nathan, H. Westley Clark, CNN, 14 Apr. 2021 During that time, Heflin – a prohibitionist and racist – saw a Black man sitting on a streetcar in Washington, D.C., sipping whiskey with a white woman, according to a historical account. John Sharp, al, 13 Jan. 2021 Therefore, outlawing alcohol would better American society on a wide variety of fronts, prohibitionists thought. Leah Asmelash, CNN, 17 Jan. 2020 Breweries can’t make health claims about their beer, due to regulations put in place after Prohibition (and largely due to the efforts of the same prohibitionists who brought about the 18th Amendment). Jay R. Brooks, The Mercury News, 17 June 2019 Gun prohibitionists [are] rejoicing over their efforts to drag gun owners into court with no due process, strip their rights, then send them home,’’ the league said in a tweet. Jerome Campbell, BostonGlobe.com, 3 May 2018 Instead, the council, spooked by the impassioned prohibitionists who dominated a recent meeting, opted to put the matter before voters, most likely in November of next year. Logan Jenkins, sandiegouniontribune.com, 20 Oct. 2017

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'prohibitionist.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1830, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of prohibitionist was in 1830

Dictionary Entries Near prohibitionist

Cite this Entry

“Prohibitionist.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prohibitionist. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

prohibitionist

noun
pro·​hi·​bi·​tion·​ist ˈpro-ə-ˈbish-(ə-)nəst How to pronounce prohibitionist (audio)
: a person who is in favor of prohibiting the manufacture and sale of alcoholic beverages

More from Merriam-Webster on prohibitionist

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!