noun
- illegal bars or nightclubs that sold alcoholic beverages during Prohibition in the United States (1920-1933)
Usage: historical; plural of speakeasy
Examples
- During the 1920s, speakeasies flourished in major cities across America.
- Jazz music was commonly played in speakeasies to entertain patrons.
- Police raids on speakeasies were frequent during Prohibition.
- Many speakeasies required passwords for entry to avoid detection.
- The end of Prohibition in 1933 led to the closure of most speakeasies.
- Some speakeasies operated in basements or hidden rooms behind legitimate businesses.