prohibitivo

Prohibitivo is an adjective used in several Romance languages, notably Spanish, Italian and Portuguese, to describe something that prohibits or is capable of prohibiting an action. It can refer to rules, norms or measures that aim to ban behavior, as well as to prices or costs that deter participation. The term derives from Latin prohibitus and has cognates in Spanish, Italian and Portuguese.

In economics and everyday speech, prohibitivo commonly describes prices, taxes or tariffs that are so high that they prevent people from buying or accessing a service. Examples include "un precio prohibitivo" or "una tasa prohibitiva."

In legal or regulatory contexts, it can modify nouns such as "multa prohibitiva" or "restricción prohibitiva" to convey the effect of discouraging conduct.

The usage is largely metaphorical when applied to price or cost, emphasizing deterrence rather than impossibility. Although the term can appear in formal discourse and policy documents, register and nuance vary by country and language.