prohibitive

USAGE SUMMARY

'prohibitive' is an acceptable word in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is intended to prohibit or prevent something from happening. For example, "The prohibitive cost of the new car made it impossible for me to purchase one."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

His comments follow similar misgivings expressed by Walters, who said in January that if she were starting out today she did not believe she would make it because the studying involved would be financially prohibitive.

The Guardian

What's more, our regulators insist that banks must put prohibitive amounts of capital behind business lending.

The Guardian - Opinion

For many families the cost of a bespoke memorial, carved by a craftsman, is prohibitive.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

There are areas you can't go beyond because it is prohibitive for those who are unauthorised.

The Guardian

Neither the Beatles nor Roxy Music would have existed, never mind shaped pop culture, had there been prohibitive college fees.

The Guardian

The access that smart, creative, messy kids from council estates once had to polytechnics, universities and art colleges has been eroded by prohibitive college fees.

The Guardian

An anonymous recent graduate from Queen Mary, University of London, says: "The cost of private accommodation in London is so prohibitive that the half-decent places are beyond any student's means – unless you have wealthy parents.

The Guardian

"The nearest cinema is nearly five miles away and the cost is prohibitive for most families living on our estate".

The Guardian

Yet prohibitive school fees meant Yaguine like so many others of his age, left school to seek paid work.

The Guardian

Fairfax executives argued it was a good deal because the cost of digitising its vast archives was prohibitive at $2 to $4 per picture, or an estimated $32m.

The Guardian

On the African continent, shows like South Africa's e.TV Late Nite News with Loyiso Gola, Kenya's XYZ show, and Zanews's Puppet Nation show an appetite for satirical news programmes, but slow bandwidth, connectivity issues and expensive internet costs have also proved prohibitive in the circulation of online TV programmes.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "prohibitive", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being prevented or discouraged, such as "prohibitive costs" or "prohibitive regulations".

Common error

Avoid using "prohibitive" in vague statements. Always specify what aspect is prohibitive and what it prevents. For example, instead of saying "The conditions were prohibitive", specify "The conditions were prohibitive for investment" or "The conditions were prohibitive for further research".

Linguistic Context

The word "prohibitive" primarily functions as an adjective. It modifies nouns to describe something that discourages or prevents a certain action, often due to high cost or strict regulations. Ludwig's examples illustrate its usage in contexts such as "prohibitive college fees" or "prohibitive capital cost".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "prohibitive" is a versatile adjective commonly used to describe something that effectively prevents or discourages an action, often because of high costs or strict regulations. As Ludwig AI confirms, the word is grammatically sound and widely accepted in written English. Its frequent appearance in news, business, and scientific contexts highlights its relevance across various domains. When employing "prohibitive", clarity is key; ensure you clearly specify what aspect is prohibitive and the outcome it prevents. Considering semantically similar alternatives, like "excessively costly" or "unacceptably restrictive", can add precision to your writing and resonate better with your target audience. Its consistent usage in authoritative sources such as The Economist and The Guardian further solidifies its credibility and widespread understanding.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

incredibly prohibitive

Simple intensity modifier.

extremely unaffordable

Directly points out the inability to afford something because of its high price.

excessively costly

Focuses specifically on the high cost aspect, making it unaffordable.

impracticably expensive

Highlights the impracticality due to high expenses, suggesting it's not feasible.

unacceptably restrictive

Emphasizes the restrictive nature, suggesting something is overly limited or controlled.

economically unviable

Focuses on the lack of economic feasibility, indicating that it's not sustainable financially.

completely deterring

Indicates something is acting as a strong deterrent, preventing action or participation.

absolutely forbidding

Highlights the characteristic of disallowing or preventing something.

out of reach

Suggests something is unattainable, often due to financial or logistical barriers.

virtually impossible

Implies that something is so difficult or costly that it's nearly unachievable.

FAQs

How can I use "prohibitive" in a sentence?

You can use "prohibitive" to describe something that prevents or discourages an action, often due to high cost or strict regulations. For example, "The "prohibitive cost" of housing in the city deters many young professionals from moving there".

What are some alternatives to the word "prohibitive"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "excessively costly", "unacceptably restrictive", or "economically unviable". Choose the word that best fits the specific meaning you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "prohibitive to" instead of "prohibitive for"?

While not grammatically incorrect, "prohibitive for" is more commonly used. "Prohibitive to" might sound awkward in certain contexts. For example, "The cost is prohibitive for many families" sounds more natural than "The cost is prohibitive to many families".

What's the difference between "prohibitive" and "restrictive"?

"Prohibitive" often implies a complete prevention due to high costs or stringent rules, while "restrictive" suggests limitations or constraints that make something difficult but not necessarily impossible. For example, a "prohibitive tax" might make a purchase impossible, while a "restrictive policy" might only make it more challenging.