unaffordable

adjective

un·​af·​ford·​able ˌən-ə-ˈfȯr-də-bəl How to pronounce unaffordable (audio)
: too costly to be paid for : not affordable
unaffordable tuition
unaffordably adverb
unaffordably high prices

Examples of unaffordable in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Latino college students are more likely to come from low-income backgrounds than white students, according to state higher ed data, and close to 40% face unaffordable college costs. oregonlive, 15 Sep. 2023 Even if rates dip slightly, buying a home will still remain relatively unaffordable for many prospective homebuyers. Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 9 Aug. 2023 Even with the improvements, 47% of public university students continue to face unaffordable costs, the state found. oregonlive, 1 Sep. 2023 The fall reflects the growing pressures on young South Koreans, including economic concerns such as unaffordable housing and rising costs of living. Jessie Yeung, CNN, 29 Aug. 2023 Seattle, which saw its average home size drop 18% in five years, is one of the markets that was already close to being, if not already, unaffordable. Byalena Botros, Fortune, 29 Aug. 2023 This is in part because energy prices have risen, making conventional fuel sources like kerosene unaffordable for many families, said NwaJesus Anthony Onyekuru, a professor of resource and environmental economics at the University of Nigeria. Caroline Chen, ProPublica, 8 Aug. 2023 That all means that Canada’s housing market is still severely unaffordable for some. Byalena Botros, Fortune, 22 Aug. 2023 Gottlieb said this contributed not only to poor water quality but also to other problems the Cape faces today, including unaffordable housing. Beth Treffeisen, BostonGlobe.com, 18 Aug. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'unaffordable.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1825, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of unaffordable was in 1825

Dictionary Entries Near unaffordable

Cite this Entry

“Unaffordable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unaffordable. Accessed 27 Sep. 2023.

More from Merriam-Webster on unaffordable

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!