prohibitive

adjective

pro·​hib·​i·​tive prō-ˈhi-bə-tiv 

prə-

1

: tending to prohibit or restrain

2

: tending to preclude use or purchase

prohibitive costs

3

: almost certain to perform as predicted

a prohibitive favorite

prohibitively adverb

prohibitiveness noun

Examples of prohibitive in a Sentence

the prohibitive cost of rent

Recent Examples on the Web

With prohibitive levies that would essentially lead to a complete embargo, the world’s two biggest economies are hurting. —Shuli Ren, Twin Cities, 16 May 2025

However, that number could still be seen as prohibitive to trade. —Jesse Pound, CNBC, 9 May 2025

That was greeted with frustration from advocates and legislators, who felt the courts were placing a prohibitive price tag on a policy question that the judicial system asked the legislature to solve. —Nick Coltrain, Denver Post, 1 May 2025

These areas are notoriously difficult to launch a startup in, as most ideas require resources such as labs, scientific equipment, consulting, market research, and access to risk capital that are either difficult to access or are cost prohibitive. —Jon Stojan, USA Today, 1 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for prohibitive

• inhibitive

Kids Definition

prohibitive

adjective

pro·​hib·​i·​tive prō-ˈhib-ət-iv 

: likely to discourage use or purchase

prohibitive prices

prohibitively adverb