a prerogative writ issued by a superior court that prevents an inferior court or tribunal from exceedings it jurisdiction or usurping jurisdiction it has not been given by law. It is an extraordinary writ because it issues only when the party seeking it is without other means of redress for the wrong about to be inflicted by the act of the inferior tribunal. Sometimes it is referred to simply as PROHIBITION. Source: Barron's Dictionary of Legal Terms, Steven H. Gifis, 5th Edition; © 2016