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

There has been mounting outside pressure on LSU to make a coaching change at the top, but Kelly's approximate $52 million buyout is prohibitive. —Jordan Sigler, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Oct. 2025

Between tickets, parking and food, taking a family of four to see the Red Sox can be cost-prohibitive, especially for lower income families. —Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 26 Oct. 2025

The pieces were not insured, which is not uncommon for state collections because of the prohibitive costs, the Times reported, citing France’s culture ministry. —Michael Dorgan, FOXNews.com, 22 Oct. 2025

Western Conference teams would be the prohibitive favorites. —Bay Area News Group, Mercury News, 21 Oct. 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