prohibitive

prohibitive — adjective

1. describing a price or cost that is so high it stops people from being able to bu

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

describing a price or cost that is so high it stops people from being able to buy something or do something they would otherwise want to do.

Example

The cost of housing in the city center has become prohibitive for most young families.

prohibitive cost + for [group]

Saira wanted to attend the music festival, but the ticket prices were prohibitive.

Common collocations
  • prohibitive cost
  • prohibitive price
  • prohibitive fee
  • prohibitive rent
  • prohibitive expense
Synonyms
  • exorbitant

    stronger disapproval; suggests the price is unfair or unreasonable

  • astronomical

    informal, emphasizes an extremely high amount

  • sky-high

    informal, draws a vivid comparison to something very tall

Antonyms

Usage Note

Typically modifies nouns related to cost: price, fee, rent, rate, tuition, or cost. Not used to describe people — a person cannot be 'prohibitive'.

Common Mistakes

The medicine was prohibited for the family.
The medicine was prohibitive for the family.
'prohibited' means forbidden by law; 'prohibitive' means too expensive.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All four words describe high costs, but they differ in intensity and register. 'Prohibitive' focuses on the effect of the price — it stops someone from buying (e.g., 'the prohibitive cost of college'). 'Exorbitant' carries strong disapproval and suggests the price goes beyond what is fair ('an exorbitant hotel bill'). 'Astronomical' is informal and hyperbolic, comparing the price to the vastness of space ('astronomical rent in the city'). 'Steep' is the mildest of the group, simply meaning higher than expected ('a steep entrance fee'). Use 'prohibitive' when the point is that the price functions as a barrier; use 'exorbitant' when criticising unfairness; use 'steep' for moderate complaint.

prohibitive ↗exorbitantastronomical ↗steep ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • prohibitive cost of living
  • prohibitive price tag

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

From Latin 'prohibitivus', meaning 'tending to prevent', built from 'prohibēre' ('to hold back, hinder') — itself from 'pro-' ('forward, away') + 'habēre' ('to hold'). The sense of 'so expensive it blocks purchase' emerged in the early 1800s. Before that, the word was used with its literal meaning of 'preventing or forbidding'.