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

Furthermore, the current tariff plan could be cost-prohibitive and there may not be as much tariff revenue as expected, according to estimates from the Tax Foundation, a non-partisan, non-profit group. —Diana Leyva, Nashville Tennessean, 5 Dec. 2025

If vendors were to try to make it domestically, the mere cost of moving the manufacturing operations would be prohibitive — let alone actually producing the trees. —Jamie Knodel, NBC news, 4 Dec. 2025

Porto’s Samu Aghehowa, the 21-year-old striker, is viewed as an exciting prospect, though his likely asking price may prove prohibitive. —Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 2 Dec. 2025

Not only that, they could be sent on missions that would today be prohibitive because of the risk of losing an expensive plane – not to mention its pilot. —New Atlas, 29 Nov. 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