What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
unaffordable
Example
The rent in this city is unaffordable for most people. [unaffordable: adjective]
Example
I would love to buy that car, but it's unaffordable for me right now. [unaffordable: adjective]
prohibitive
Example
The prohibitive cost of college tuition is preventing many students from pursuing higher education. [prohibitive: adjective]
Example
The airline's prohibitive baggage fees made it impossible for me to travel with my luggage. [prohibitive: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Unaffordable is more commonly used in everyday language than prohibitive. Unaffordable is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while prohibitive is less common and typically used in more formal or specialized contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between unaffordable and prohibitive?
Prohibitive is more formal and less common than unaffordable. It is typically used in business or legal contexts where precise language is required to convey the severity of the cost.