What does "prohibit" mean?

The term "prohibit" means to prevent someone from doing something or to officially forbid it. This aligns perfectly with the choice of "prevent," as both words suggest an action taken to stop or restrict activities, behaviors, or actions. For example, laws often prohibit certain behaviors, thereby ensuring that these actions do not occur within a given context.

In contrast, the other choices imply a sense of permission or support. "Encourage" suggests promoting or supporting a particular action. "Allow" means to give permission for something to happen. "Facilitate" refers to making a process easier or helping something to occur. Therefore, these alternatives do not capture the essence of "prohibit," which is inherently about restriction and prevention.