Prohibitively priced

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Prohibitively priced" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe something that is so expensive that it prevents people from purchasing it. Example: "The new electric car is prohibitively priced for most consumers, making it difficult for them to consider buying it."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Once I started making a regular wage out of music, I graduated to 16 mm., and was relieved to find that it wasn't quite as prohibitively priced as I had previously thought.

The New Yorker

For many of our members and their organisations this is about ensuring they have the right information and professional development opportunities at the right time and not prohibitively priced.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

As Gruber notes processing power, memory, and price difference in a Retina-display iPad would create a situation that could prohibitively price the iPad 2 out of the range of even a Macbook Air or even a small island fortress off the coast of Portugal.

TechCrunch

But there's little question that the Yves Béhar-designed premium juicer was priced prohibitively high for the added luxury of juicing at home without all of the extra fibrous byproduct.

TechCrunch

Its prohibitively low prices warded off competition.

The New Yorker

Antares had to charge prohibitively high prices to recoup its investment.

The New Yorker

These same sectors are further undermined by the prohibitively high price of land plots available for industrial, agricultural or commercial use.

The New York Times

Putting a retractable roof over the stadium, another of Hicks's unrealistic ambitions, would cost about $300 million, a prohibitively high price for new owners who already paid more than they intended for the club.

The New York Times - Magazine

With a prohibitively high price tag (The Logic Bolt, one of the world's first projector-enabled mobile phones is $475 in the US, though its release has been highly limited), it's easy to see his point.

Independent

Neymar is the new young star of Brazilian football and Santos have organised a concerted effort to keep him away from European clubs unless they get their prohibitively high price.

Independent

Agreement peaks among the 25-34 agroupoup (65%) who are most likely to be at a stage in life where they want to get on the property ladder, but are excluded by prohibitively high prices.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "prohibitively priced", ensure the context clearly establishes who or what is being priced out. For example, specify the demographic, purpose, or industry affected by the high price.

Common error

Avoid stating something is "prohibitively priced" without providing context. Instead of saying "housing is prohibitively priced", specify "housing in urban areas is prohibitively priced for young families".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "prohibitively priced" functions as an adverbial modifier combined with an adjective. It describes the extent to which something is expensive, indicating that the price acts as a significant obstacle. Ludwig provides examples demonstrating its usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

"Prohibitively priced" is a phrase used to describe something so expensive that it prevents people from purchasing it. Ludwig AI confirms the grammatical correctness of the expression. While infrequent in general conversation, its use is suitable for news and media, as well as business-related contexts. When using this phrase, ensure you clarify who or what the high price affects. Alternatives such as "unreasonably expensive" or "excessively costly" can be used depending on the nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Unreasonably expensive

Highlights the lack of justification for the high price.

Excessively costly

Emphasizes the high cost aspect more directly.

Exorbitantly priced

Implies an inflated or unreasonable price.

Unattainably expensive

Focuses on the impossibility of acquiring due to the price.

Out of reach financially

Highlights the financial inaccessibility.

Beyond one's means

Refers to exceeding someone's financial capacity.

Priced beyond affordability

Directly states the lack of affordability.

Inordinately expensive

Similar to "exorbitantly priced" but perhaps slightly less extreme.

Ridiculously overpriced

Conveys a sense of absurdity in the pricing.

Commercially unviable

Focuses on the impracticality for business or trade.

FAQs

How can I use "prohibitively priced" in a sentence?

You can use "prohibitively priced" to describe goods or services that are too expensive for most people to afford. For example: "The latest smartphone is "prohibitively priced" for many consumers".

What are some alternatives to saying "prohibitively priced"?

Alternatives include "unreasonably expensive", "excessively costly", or "exorbitantly priced". The best choice depends on the specific context.

When is it appropriate to use "prohibitively priced"?

It is appropriate when you want to emphasize that the high cost is a barrier, preventing access or purchase. It's stronger than simply saying something is "expensive".

What's the difference between "prohibitively priced" and "unaffordable"?

"Unaffordable" is a more general term indicating that something is beyond one's financial reach. "Prohibitively priced" implies that the high price acts as a barrier, actively preventing purchase or access. It suggests the pricing is intentionally or unintentionally exclusionary.