prohibitive

adjective

pro·​hib·​i·​tive prō-ˈhi-bə-tiv How to pronounce prohibitive (audio)
prə-
1
: tending to prohibit or restrain
2
: tending to preclude use or purchase
prohibitive costs
3
: almost certain to perform as predicted
a prohibitive favorite
prohibitively adverb
prohibitiveness noun

Examples of prohibitive in a Sentence

the prohibitive cost of rent
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Current prices are prohibitive for many insurers, businesses and government payers. Mike Allen, Axios, 4 Oct. 2024 The program involves significantly more paperwork and an insured revenue cap that doesn’t always cover the entire farm’s revenue, which can be prohibitive to insurance agents in selling and farmers in buying the policy, Layher said. Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 30 July 2024 The current cost of these high-tech systems is prohibitive for mass-market consumer vehicles. Michael Khouw, CNBC, 4 Nov. 2024 The cost of filing—in her case, about $1,800 to cover legal fees—was also prohibitive for someone without any savings. Michael Waters, The Atlantic, 30 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for prohibitive 

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of prohibitive was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near prohibitive

Cite this Entry

“Prohibitive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prohibitive. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

prohibitive

adjective
pro·​hib·​i·​tive prō-ˈhib-ət-iv How to pronounce prohibitive (audio)
: likely to discourage use or purchase
prohibitive prices
prohibitively adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on prohibitive

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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