prohibitive
Americanadjective
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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.
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sufficing to prevent the use, purchase, etc., of something.
prohibitive prices.
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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.
adjective
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prohibiting or tending to prohibit
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(esp of prices) tending or designed to discourage sale or purchase
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of prohibitive
First recorded in 1400–50; from Medieval Latin prohibitīvus; see origin at prohibit, -ive
Explanation
That expensive Ferrari in the showroom? You may want it, but its price is prohibitive — which means the price is discouragingly high and likely to deter you from buying. Prohibitive originally referred to something (often a law) that prohibits or forbids something, but it came to mean conditions (often prices or taxes) so high or great they restrict or prevent something: "To some, the cost of child care is prohibitive." The stress is on the second syllable, just like the verb: pro-HIB-i-tive. If it's a matter of expense, a synonym is exorbitant.
Vocabulary lists containing prohibitive
Outliers
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The Stars Beneath Our Feet
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Challenge, List 3
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Prohibitive costs and an uncertain market have made filmed versions of Broadway shows a rarity in movie theaters.
From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 5, 2025
Prohibitive land prices and access to finance are identified as key challenges in the report, as are limited and insecure tenancies and the sale of county council farms.
From BBC • Jul. 23, 2025
Prohibitive prices, short range and a dearth of accessible, public charging stations remain barriers for most people interested but hesitant to make the switch away from gasoline.
From Seattle Times • Jul. 25, 2022
Prohibitive housing costs are not the only reason there are relatively few children.
From New York Times • Jan. 21, 2017
In the Syntax I have recognized a special category of Ablative of Association, and have abandoned the original doctrine as to the force of tenses in the Prohibitive.
From New Latin Grammar by Bennett, Charles E. (Charles Edwin)
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
