What's the main difference between "ban," "prohibit," and "forbid?"
Native speaker’s answer
Rebecca
To "ban" is to disallow someone to do something/block something from being used, and it may be specific to an area or time. For example, if smoking is banned, you cannot do it. You can also be banned from places (not allowed to enter or visit). For example, if you violate the rules of a place, you may be banned from entering it. As a noun in the legal sense, a ban can be a law that legally punishes people who violate the it. Ex: He got banned from the bar because he was starting fights with others. Ex: There is a public smoking ban in this city. To "forbid" is very similar to "ban," however it has more of a social message. If something is forbidden, it is just highly warned against or may cause the disapproval f others, but it is often not followed by heavy punishments like a ban would be. Ex: We are forbidden to eat food on the subway. Ex: My teacher forbid us from talking during class. To "prohibit" means to give an order not to do something, and it is more formal and legal (like bans). The noun form is "prohibition." Ex: We were prohibited from going outside due to the pandemic. Ex: The law prohibits us from drunk driving. Overall, "ban", "forbid" and "prohibit" are quite similar in meaning, but the context in which each is used may vary.
