prohibitive
gb/pɹoʊhˈɪbɪtɪv/ us/pɹoʊhˈɪbɪtɪv/
C1
English
megfizethetetlen, ellehetetlenítő, akadályozó, tiltó, elrettentő
C1
1
Usage pattern:
prohibitive + [cost/price/fees/rent/rates]
In the city center, rents are prohibitive for most students.
A belvárosban a lakbérek a legtöbb diák számára megfizethetetlenek.
The repair estimate was prohibitive, so we decided to replace the car instead.
A javítási árajánlat megfizethetetlenül magas volt, ezért inkább úgy döntöttünk, lecseréljük az autót.
For small businesses, the upfront licensing fees can be prohibitive.
Learner examples
The tickets are prohibitive for me.
A jegyek nekem megfizethetetlenek.
Housing here is too costly—almost prohibitive.
Itt a lakhatás túl költséges, már-már megfizethetetlen.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use it to mean simply 'illegal'; in modern use it very often means 'too expensive'.
Meaning
too expensive to afford
Collocations
prohibitive cost
|prohibitive price
|prohibitive fees
|prohibitive rent
|prohibitive interest rates
|prohibitive insurance premiums
|prohibitive expenses
|prohibitive tuition
|prohibitive charges
|prohibitive entry fee
Synonyms
unaffordable (Directly focuses on inability to pay.)
|
exorbitant (Emphasizes that the price is unreasonably high.)
|
extortionate (Stronger; implies the price is unfair or exploitative.)
|
steep (More informal; often used for prices or increases.)
Antonyms
affordable (Cheap enough for most people to pay.)
|
reasonable (Not too high for the situation.)
Themes
money
|shopping
|daily_life
|business
Definition
Too expensive, so people cannot pay for it.
So expensive that it prevents most people from buying or doing something.
C1
2
akadályozó
B2
Usage pattern:
prohibitive + [rule/requirement/condition/obstacle]
The visa process is so slow and costly that it becomes prohibitive for many applicants.
A vízumeljárás annyira lassú és költséges, hogy sok kérelmező számára gyakorlatilag ellehetetleníti a jelentkezést.
The equipment is available, but the training time is prohibitive.
A felszerelés rendelkezésre áll, de a betanuláshoz szükséges idő túl hosszú, ezért ez komoly akadály.
For some families, the travel distance to the clinic is prohibitive.
Learner examples
The rules are too strict and become prohibitive.
A szabályok túl szigorúak, és végül ellehetetlenítik a dolgot.
The long commute is prohibitive for her.
A hosszú ingázás számára túl nagy akadályt jelent.
Common mistake:
Do not confuse with 'prohibited' (not allowed). 'Prohibitive' usually describes something that has a blocking effect.
Meaning
stopping something from happening
Collocations
prohibitive regulations
|prohibitive requirements
|prohibitive conditions
|prohibitive restrictions
|prohibitive workload
|prohibitive schedule
|prohibitive distance
|prohibitive barriers
|prohibitive entry requirements
|prohibitive bureaucracy
Synonyms
restrictive (Focuses on limiting freedom or options.)
|
onerous (Emphasizes that it is burdensome to comply with.)
|
discouraging (Focuses on reducing willingness to try.)
Antonyms
permissive (Allowing more freedom or fewer limits.)
|
lenient (Not strict or demanding.)
Themes
rules
|work
|education
|travel
|business
Definition
So hard or strict that it stops people from doing something.
Having an effect that prevents something from happening or makes it extremely difficult to do.
C1
FORMAL
3
tiltó
C1
elrettentő
C1
Usage pattern:
prohibitive + [law/legislation/tariff/tax/measure]
The country introduced a prohibitive tariff on imported cars to protect local manufacturers.
Az ország tiltóvámot vezetett be az importált autókra, hogy megvédje a helyi gyártókat.
Critics argued that the proposed law was prohibitive and would effectively shut down small operators.
A bírálók szerint a javasolt törvény tiltó jellegű, és gyakorlatilag kiszorítaná a kisebb szereplőket.
The policy imposed prohibitive penalties for minor violations.
Learner examples
The government set a prohibitive tax on cigarettes.
A kormány elrettentő adót vetett ki a cigarettára.
Common mistake:
In this sense, 'prohibitive' is about the intention or purpose (to prevent), not just the effect.
Meaning
intended to ban or discourage
Collocations
prohibitive law
|prohibitive legislation
|prohibitive tariff
|prohibitive tax
|prohibitive measures
|prohibitive policy
|prohibitive duty
|prohibitive sanctions
|prohibitive ban
|prohibitive pricing
Synonyms
prohibitory (More direct meaning 'serving to prohibit'; more formal.)
|
banning (More explicit; focuses on an outright ban.)
Antonyms
allowing (Permits the activity rather than blocking it.)
|
enabling (Makes the activity possible or easier.)
Themes
law
|government
|trade
|business
Definition
Made to stop something, often by making it very hard or costly.
Intended to prohibit something, or to discourage it strongly (often by making it difficult or expensive).
Grammar
Dictionary form
prohibitive
IPA
GB/pɹoʊhˈɪbɪtɪv/
US/pɹoʊhˈɪbɪtɪv/
Syllables & stress
pro - hib - it - ive (4 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (hib)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: prohibitive
Word family
Core family
Advanced or less common
prohibitory
adjective
prohibitionist
noun
Expressions
at a prohibitive cost
1/ˈæt ə pɹoʊhˈɪbɪtɪv kˈɔst/
fixed phrase
only possible with huge expense
Only possible if you pay too much money.
Examples
- They can deliver in 24 hours, but only at a prohibitive cost.
- The house could be renovated, but at a prohibitive cost.
- We could expand the team, but at a prohibitive cost right now.
Learner examples
- I could go, but at a prohibitive cost.
prohibitive tariff
1/pɹoʊhˈɪbɪtɪv tˈɛɹəf/
fixed phrase
business
tariff set to block imports
A very high import tax that stops people from importing something.
Examples
- The company stopped exporting there after a prohibitive tariff was introduced.
- Farmers supported the prohibitive tariff on foreign produce.
- Negotiators pushed to remove prohibitive tariffs that were hurting trade.
prohibitively expensive
1/pɹoʊhˈɪbɪtɪvli ɪkspˈɛnsɪv/
fixed phrase
so expensive you can't buy it
Extremely expensive—too expensive to pay for.
Examples
- Without a scholarship, the course is prohibitively expensive.
- Owning a car downtown can be prohibitively expensive because of parking.
- The new medication is effective, but prohibitively expensive for many patients.
Learner examples
- This laptop is prohibitively expensive for me.
prohibitively expensive
1/pɹoʊhˈɪbɪtɪvli ɪkspˈɛnsɪv/
fixed phrase
too expensive to buy
Too expensive to afford.
Examples
- A private room was prohibitively expensive, so we booked a shared one.
- Electric cars used to be prohibitively expensive for many drivers.
- The repair would be prohibitively expensive for a ten-year-old laptop.
Learner examples
- This phone is prohibitively expensive.
prohibitively high
1/pɹoʊhˈɪbɪtɪvli hˈaɪ/
fixed phrase
too high to accept
Too high, so you cannot do it or choose it.
Examples
- Interest rates were prohibitively high for first-time buyers.
- The insurance premium is prohibitively high because the area floods often.
- For many households, childcare costs are prohibitively high.
Learner examples
- The fee is prohibitively high.
prohibitively high
1/pɹoʊhˈɪbɪtɪvli hˈaɪ/
fixed phrase
too high to be acceptable
So high that people cannot pay or do it.
Examples
- The interest rate was prohibitively high, so they didn’t take the loan.
- Application fees are prohibitively high for many students.
- In peak season, hotel prices can be prohibitively high.
Learner examples
- The rent is prohibitively high.