cannot be purchased

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "cannot be purchased" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is not available for sale or cannot be bought. Example: "This rare artifact is so unique that it cannot be purchased by anyone."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Prepared food cannot be purchased with food stamps.

The Guardian - Opinion

Nevertheless, thinking and intellectual growth cannot be purchased "off the peg".

The Guardian

Truth cannot be purchased and, thus, truth cannot be altered by money.

The New Yorker

www.mta.nyc.ny.us/mnr LONG ISLAND RAIL ROAD Tickets cannot be purchased on the train; $3 within city limits.

The New York Times

If a part cannot be purchased, I will make it," he said in an interview at his shop.

The New York Times

Passes cannot be purchased at the two beaches, but at the Eastern Civic Center and Town Hall, and with cash only.

The New York Times

The Li-Ning sneaker retails for only $45 in China but cannot be purchased in the United States, a potential drawback for other N.B.A. players.

The New York Times

Masks are another hot item, though oddly the high-technology versions that are now standard issue in the West still cannot be purchased here.

The New York Times

Often, sponsorships come with extras: for instance, the kind of well-situated tickets that cannot be purchased at the box office.

The Economist

The gift cannot be purchased in shops, although, depending on the year and condition, can be found for up to a few thousand pounds on eBay.

Independent

He set up a site, www.faketitles.com, to explain to commoners that a genuine British title cannot be purchased except for the feudal (and quite expensive) title of a Scottish baron.

The New York Times - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "cannot be purchased" to emphasize the inaccessibility of something through monetary means. This can be used both literally (e.g., a product not being sold) and figuratively (e.g., a concept like happiness).

Common error

Avoid using "cannot be purchased" when you simply mean something is expensive or difficult to obtain. This phrase specifically denotes that something is impossible to acquire through monetary exchange, not just challenging.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "cannot be purchased" functions as a predicate adjective phrase, indicating a state of being unavailable for sale. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is a correct and usable expression. It describes a quality or condition of something that makes it unobtainable through monetary transaction.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

49%

Science

25%

Wiki

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "cannot be purchased" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. Its primary function is to indicate that something is not available for sale or cannot be obtained through monetary means. It is versatile, appearing in various contexts from News & Media to Scientific publications, and can be used both literally and figuratively. While interchangeable with "cannot be bought", "cannot be purchased" carries a slightly more formal tone. When writing, ensure that you are using it to denote impossibility of purchase, not just difficulty or high cost. This phrase and related alternatives, such as "is not for sale" and "is unavailable for purchase", offer writers a clear and effective way to communicate that something is beyond monetary reach.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is not for sale

Directly states the item is not offered for buying.

is unavailable for purchase

Focuses on the unavailability of the item for buying.

is something money can't buy

Emphasizes that money is not sufficient to acquire the item.

is not obtainable by purchase

Indicates the item cannot be obtained through a transaction.

is not available for acquisition

Highlights the inability to acquire something, not necessarily just through buying.

is unattainable through payment

Highlights the impossibility of getting something through money.

is beyond monetary reach

Emphasizes that the item's value exceeds what money can buy.

cannot be acquired commercially

Specifically refers to the item not being available through commercial channels.

lies beyond the realm of commerce

Highlights that the item exists outside of commercial transactions.

is priceless

Suggests the item's value is so high that it's beyond any price.

FAQs

What does "cannot be purchased" mean?

The phrase "cannot be purchased" means that something is not available for sale or cannot be obtained by paying money. It indicates that the item or concept is unobtainable through commercial means.

What can I say instead of "cannot be purchased"?

You can use alternatives like "is not for sale", "is unavailable for purchase", or "is priceless" depending on the context.

When should I use "cannot be purchased" over "cannot be bought"?

Both "cannot be purchased" and "cannot be bought" are largely interchangeable. "Purchased" is slightly more formal than "bought", so "cannot be purchased" might be preferred in more professional or academic contexts.

Can "cannot be purchased" be used in a figurative sense?

Yes, "cannot be purchased" can be used figuratively to describe things that are not obtainable with money, such as love, trust, or happiness. For example, "Trust "cannot be purchased"; it must be earned".