prohibitive

[ proh-hib-i-tiv ]

adjective

1. serving or tending to prohibit or forbid something:

   We will discuss some of the discriminatory, prohibitive legislation that was undone by the Civil Rights Act.

2. sufficing to prevent the use, purchase, etc., of something:

   prohibitive prices.

3. having so great a likelihood of success that others vying for the same thing are essentially prevented from succeeding:

   Political analysts are largely in agreement over who the party’s prohibitive nominee is.

prohibitive

/ prəˈhɪbɪtərɪ; prəˈhɪbɪtɪv; -trɪ /

adjective

1. prohibiting or tending to prohibit
2. (esp of prices) tending or designed to discourage sale or purchase

Derived Forms

• proˈhibitively, adverb
• proˈhibitiveness, noun

Other Words From

• pro·hib·i·tive·ly adverb
• pro·hib·i·tive·ness noun
• non·pro·hib·i·tive adjective
• non·pro·hib·i·tive·ly adverb
• un·pro·hib·i·tive adjective
• un·pro·hib·i·tive·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of prohibitive¹

First recorded in 1400–50; from Medieval Latin prohibitīvus; prohibit, -ive

Example Sentences

Here’s one for just about any type of useIce picks are not particularly cost-prohibitive or bulky, but if versatility is your main concern, choose an all-around model that can excel at breaking down the most common ice-related tasks.

From Popular-Science

Their star post player, Luka Garza, is the prohibitive favorite for both national player of the year awards.

From FiveThirtyEight

In a smaller apartment or room, the size of some bikes may be prohibitive.

From Popular-Science

Most board games can keep a range of three to five players occupied, but they can often be prohibitive in larger groups and can even make others feel excluded if the game doesn’t fit the group size.

From Popular-Science

Not only is the cost of the supplies far from prohibitive, but when considered in light of the productivity protections they provide, free supplies actually benefit bottom lines.

From Fortune

Early polling shows her with a commanding—if not outright prohibitive—lead among Democratic voters.

From The Daily Beast

That broad offense aside, the fact is that for many women these costs are prohibitive.

From The Daily Beast

The cost of support and health care and insurance without SSI or Medicaid is prohibitive even for very wealthy families.

From The Daily Beast

Every time the government raises environmental standards, industry leaders whine that the cost will be prohibitive.

From The Daily Beast

The prices can be prohibitive, with houses selling for between $15 million and $20 million.

From The Daily Beast

Prospective lessees who had taken the trouble to inquire about the rental had learned that it was so high as to be prohibitive.

From Project Gutenberg

The curate admired the fingers, and observed with satisfaction that they were undecorated by a prohibitive ring.

From Project Gutenberg

He wanted to sell outright to me, but his price was prohibitive and he wouldn't ease up on it a bit, so there was nothing doing.

From Project Gutenberg

This weapon is prohibitive on account of its recoil, and few, if any, sportsmen now care to carry one.

From Project Gutenberg

Little could be procured from abroad, and in the case of a visiting ship, the captain's price was cruelly prohibitive.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• excessive
• exorbitant
• preposterous
• steep