prohibitive

adjective

pro·​hib·​i·​tive prō-ˈhi-bə-tiv How to pronounce prohibitive (audio)
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The $100,000 fees, along with new prevailing wage rules, may be prohibitive enough to tank the whole program. Patricia Lopez, Mercury News, 25 Sep. 2025 For many employers of workers on H-1Bs at those types of organizations—who also contribute significantly to America’s technological lead by conducting cutting-edge research, says Peri—the new $100,000 payment will be prohibitive. Andrew R. Chow, Time, 23 Sep. 2025 Many love to have the carefree candor of the vox populi intrude in celebrity circles where prohibitive media training and wellness blather pass for personality. Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2025 Many felt the Clippers, who also traded for perennial All-Star forward Paul George that same summer, were the prohibitive favorites to win the world title for the 2019-20 season. Robert Marvi, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for prohibitive

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of prohibitive was in the 15th century

Cite this Entry

“Prohibitive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prohibitive. Accessed 5 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

prohibitive

adjective
pro·​hib·​i·​tive prō-ˈhib-ət-iv How to pronounce prohibitive (audio)
: likely to discourage use or purchase
prohibitive prices
prohibitively adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on prohibitive

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!