# prohibitive

/pɹoʊˈhɪbətɪv/ (US) · /pɹəhˈɪbɪtˌɪv/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/prohibitive
Updated: 2026-05-18

## Definition

too expensive or difficult to be practical. You use this when something is so costly or hard that you cannot afford or manage to do it.

For teachers: exceeding the limits of what is reasonable or affordable; making an action or purchase impossible due to high cost or difficulty. Often used in economic or technical contexts to describe a barrier to entry.

## Examples

- The cost of the new car is prohibitive for most families.
- The high cost of living in the city makes it prohibitive for young professionals to rent an apartment.
- The technical complexity of the software made it prohibitive for small businesses to implement without significant external support.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.