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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Study after study shows a correlation between cannabis use and depression, though prohibitionists or federal organizations sometimes use them to discourage cannabis use. Rowan Briggs, The Mercury News, 24 Oct. 2024 After being used medicinally and sold over the counter in the United States for decades, cannabis was driven underground in the 1930s by racist government prohibitionists led by Harry Anslinger. Robert Johnson, Rolling Stone, 12 Aug. 2024 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

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 24 Nov. 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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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