If the cost of something is prohibitive, it is so high that many people cannot afford it.
[formal]
The cost of private treatment can be prohibitive.
...the prohibitive prices charged for seats at the opera.
Synonyms: exorbitant, excessive, steep [informal], high-priced More Synonyms of prohibitive
prohibitivelyadverb [ADVERB adjective]
Meat and butter were prohibitively expensive.
More Synonyms of prohibitive
prohibitive in British English
(prəˈhɪbɪtɪv) or less commonly prohibitory (prəˈhɪbɪtərɪ, -trɪ)
adjective
1.
prohibiting or tending to prohibit
2.
(esp of prices) tending or designed to discourage sale or purchase
Derived forms
prohibitively (proˈhibitively)
adverb
prohibitiveness (proˈhibitiveness)
noun
prohibitive in American English
(proʊˈhɪbətɪv; prəˈhɪbətɪv)
adjective
1.
prohibiting or tending to prohibit something
2.
such as to prevent purchase, use, etc.
prohibitive prices
Also proˈhibiˌtory (proʊˈhɪbəˌtɔri; prəˈhɪbəˌtɔri)
Derived forms
prohibitively (proˈhibitively)
adverb
Word origin
Fr prohibitif < LL prohibitivus
Examples of 'prohibitive' in a sentence
prohibitive
There is another big obstacle to making electric cars mainstream: their prohibitive cost.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
There is another big obstacle to making electric cars mainstream: their prohibitivecost.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
But the costs are prohibitive for most people.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The cost of reaching these reserves may yet prove prohibitive.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
That is a horribly prohibitive price but there is much evidence to justify its meanness.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
And that this is reinforced by tax laws that make it prohibitive.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Such is the rarity of family houses for sale in some areas that their prices are prohibitive.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
But only at a prohibitive price for a player who has yet to prove himself on the worldstage.
The Sun (2015)
But the cost may be prohibitive and it is hard to see how such treatment will be available to all.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
And the transport costs are prohibitive.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
According to a diocesan official, the cost of installing new bronze bells has become prohibitive.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
That means new cards must be bought, but the cost is prohibitive for many.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Like unpaid internships, the cost of most courses makes them prohibitive for many people.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
But the building costs are prohibitive, so most people will need an alternative.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Ticket prices are prohibitive for many, but this is only the beginning.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
At first they considered setting up a tea shop, but the costs were prohibitive.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Given the prohibitive price of truffles, this is a somewhat academic entry.
Smith, Drew Food Watch (1994)
At first, the cost was prohibitive.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The only solution now would be to dial up ISPs overseas but the cost of international calls makes this prohibitive.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The move would remove the prohibitive cost from some poorer nations and avoid any conflicts from federations facing the prospect of sanctioning their star athletes.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Passenger Focus says that the benefits of regular departures are limited because of the prohibitive cost of fully flexible tickets.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Until earlier this year, Istanbul was the clear if not prohibitive favourite.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The number of teenage motorists on Britain's roads is shrinking as the cost of owning a car becomes prohibitive.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
A price tag of around 20m was always going to prove prohibitive for a 31-year-old whose game is based on pace.
The Sun (2011)
In other languages
prohibitive
British English: prohibitive ADJECTIVE
If the cost of something is prohibitive, it is so high that many people cannot afford it.
The cost of private treatment can be prohibitive.
American English: prohibitive
Brazilian Portuguese: proibitivo
Chinese: > 高得负担不起的费用
European Spanish: prohibitivo
French: prohibitif
German: unerschwinglich
Italian: proibitivo
Japanese: 法外な
Korean: 엄청나게 비싼
European Portuguese: proibitivo
Latin American Spanish: prohibitivo
1 (adjective)
Definition
(esp. of prices) too high to be affordable
The cost of private treatment can be prohibitive.
Synonyms
exorbitant
exorbitant housing prices
excessive
banks which cripple their customers with excessive charges
steep (informal)
The annual premium can be a little steep.
high-priced
preposterous
The whole idea was preposterous.
sky-high
extortionate
the extortionate price of designer clothes
beyond your means
2 (adjective)
Definition
prohibiting or tending to prohibit
prohibitive regulations
Synonyms
prohibiting
forbidding
restraining
restrictive
repressive
suppressive
proscriptive
Additional synonyms
in the sense of excessive
banks which cripple their customers with excessive charges
Synonyms
inordinate,
unfair,
unreasonable,
disproportionate,
undue,
unwarranted,
exorbitant,
over the odds,
extortionate,
immoderate
in the sense of extortionate
Definition
(of prices, profits, etc.) much higher than is fair