cost prohibitive

USAGE SUMMARY

'cost prohibitive' is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it to describe something that is too expensive to be practical. For example: "The classic car I wanted to purchase was cost prohibitive."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

29 human-written examples

5 COST: Prohibitive.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"It is difficult and cost prohibitive for television to air a 4.5 hour college tennis match.

The New York Times

Modeling full gasoline with computer simulations is also cost prohibitive.

Fuel

It may sometimes be cost prohibitive to fly a candidate in for an interview.

Science Magazine

It's not cost prohibitive.

Huffington Post

It's cost prohibitive.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

31 human-written examples

It was cost-prohibitive, too".

The New York Times - Tech

"Moving south toward New York is cost-prohibitive," he said.

The New York Times

Under the current structure, it is just too cost-prohibitive, especially in these economic times".

The New York Times - Sports

The program gets to be cost-prohibitive when the numbers are so low.

The New York Times

But they are not cost-prohibitive, and most are simple, he said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "cost prohibitive" when you want to emphasize that the expense is the primary reason something is not feasible or practical. It's stronger than simply saying something is "expensive".

Common error

While "cost prohibitive" is generally understood, it can sound overly formal in casual conversation. In informal settings, consider using simpler alternatives like "too expensive" or "unaffordable."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "cost prohibitive" functions as an adjective phrase, modifying a noun to indicate that something is too expensive to be practical or feasible. As Ludwig highlights, it signifies a barrier created by excessive cost.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "cost prohibitive" is a grammatically sound and frequently used adjective phrase that describes something too expensive to be practical. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and provides helpful context. It's most common in News & Media and Science, with a formal tone, but can be used more informally with alternatives like "too expensive". Remember to use it when cost is the primary barrier, but avoid overuse in casual settings for better clarity. The authoritative sources like The New York Times underscore its widespread acceptance. Alternatives include "unaffordable", "excessively expensive", and "financially unviable".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unaffordable

Directly indicates the inability to afford something; slightly broader in scope than focusing solely on the prohibitive aspect.

excessively expensive

Emphasizes the extreme level of expense, making it a strong synonym.

out of reach financially

Focuses on the financial limitations that prevent access; a more descriptive alternative.

financially unviable

Highlights the impracticality of something from a financial perspective, often used in business contexts.

beyond one's means

Indicates that something is outside the financial capacity of an individual or entity.

prohibitively priced

A more formal way of saying "cost prohibitive", emphasizing pricing as the barrier.

uneconomical

Focuses on the lack of economic sense in pursuing something due to its cost.

too expensive for practical use

Expands on the impracticality aspect, highlighting that the high cost prevents its use.

at an unreasonable price

Highlights that the high cost prevents its use or is excessive.

comes at too high a price

Focuses on the value proposition.

FAQs

How can I use "cost prohibitive" in a sentence?

You can use "cost prohibitive" to describe something that is too expensive to be realistically pursued. For example, "Building a new bridge was deemed "cost prohibitive" due to the high material costs".

What are some alternatives to "cost prohibitive"?

Alternatives include "unaffordable", "excessively expensive", or "financially unviable", depending on the specific context.

Is "cost prohibitive" the same as "expensive"?

While both relate to price, "cost prohibitive" implies that the cost is so high that it prevents a project or purchase from happening, whereas "expensive" simply means that something has a high price.

When is it appropriate to use the term "cost prohibitive"?

It's suitable when discussing budgets, project feasibility, or when explaining why a particular course of action cannot be taken due to high expenses. It works well in formal and professional settings.