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

Accuracy was inconsistent, results unstable, costs still prohibitive. —Javier Hasse, Forbes.com, 10 July 2025

Gregg said there simply isn’t a large public meeting space in the district, at least not one without a prohibitive cost attached. —Austin Hornbostel, The Tennessean, 4 July 2025

Adding the additional access point would have been cost prohibitive, according to the developer. —Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 July 2025

Pritzker is a prohibitive favorite to reclaim the Democratic nomination for governor in the March 17, 2026, primary. —Rick Pearson, Chicago Tribune, 26 June 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