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Prohibitive
Adj. tending to prevent or discourage action by being excessively expensive, difficult, or restrictive.
adjective💡
Imagine This
Imagine planning a weekend trip, but the park charges a price so high that only a few wealthy visitors can afford the entry—this is prohibitive, turning others away.
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Sounds Like
pruh-HIB-uh-tiv
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Looks Like
Looks like 'prohibit' + 'ive'; visually related to 'prohibition'.
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Remember This
Originates from Latin prohibitivus, from prohibere 'to forbid'; describes costs or rules that effectively bar entry or participation.
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Other Forms
prohibitverb
prohibitionnoun
prohibitivelyadverb
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Connect With
forbid, deter, hinder; exorbitant, unaffordable, barrier to entry; restrictive
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Note
Tip: Prohibitive emphasizes a barrier that prevents action, not merely something that is merely restrictive. Distinguish from 'preventive' (prevents harm) and 'restrictive' (simply limiting).
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Study Deeper
Examples
- The tuition is prohibitive for most students.
- Access to the grant was blocked by prohibitive eligibility rules.
Synonyms
exorbitantcostlyunaffordablerestrictiveonerous
Antonyms
affordableaccessiblereasonable
Etymology
From Latin prohibitivus, from prohibere 'to forbid'.
Mnemonic
Prohibitive = PROHIBIT + IVE. To remember, think of a price tag that wants to prohibit your entry; the higher it is, the more prohibitive it becomes.
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