prohibitive

Prohibitive is an adjective that describes something that forbids or imposes a restriction, or that discourages a particular action. In everyday language, it is often used to describe costs, regulations, or conditions that prevent people from taking a course of action. For example, a prohibitive price makes a purchase impractical for most buyers, and prohibitive regulations can deter entry into a market or activity.

Etymology and sense

The word derives from the Latin prohibere, meaning “to forbid.” It combines the sense of forward action (pro-) with holding or restraining (habere). Over time, prohibitive has come to describe both forbidding prohibitions as well as conditions that effectively prevent certain behavior.

Usage

Prohibitive can apply to legal, financial, and practical restrictions. Prohibitive laws or tariffs restrict or block behavior; prohibitive costs render projects unfeasible; and prohibitive safety standards can limit access to equipment or activities. In policy discussions, the term helps convey that the barrier is so strong it discourages or eliminates the possibility of participation.

Linguistic use

In linguistics, prohibitive may refer to a grammatical mood or form used to express prohibition. This usage notes how some languages mark direct prohibitions differently from imperatives or other commands.

Antonyms and related terms

Antonyms of prohibitive include permissible, allowable, or permissive. Related terms include prohibition (the act of forbidding) and prohibitioner or prohibitive measures used to describe the mechanisms by which restrictions are implemented.