unaffordable

IPA/ˌʌnəˈfɔːdəbl/
KK[ənəfˈɔrdəbəl]IPA/ˌʌnəˈfɔːrdəbl/

unaffordable — adjective

  • unaffordablepositive
  • more unaffordablecomparative
  • most unaffordablesuperlative

1. costing more money than most people have available to spend

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

costing more money than most people have available to spend

Example

After losing his job, Minh found the rent unaffordable and moved to a smaller flat.

find + object + unaffordable (verb pattern)

For Nia's family, the new medicine was unaffordable without health insurance.

be unaffordable for [someone] (preposition pattern)

Common collocations
  • unaffordable for [someone]
  • find [something] unaffordable
  • become / remain unaffordable
  • completely / totally / simply / increasingly unaffordable
  • prohibitively unaffordable
Synonyms
Antonyms
  • affordable

    the direct opposite; within one's financial means

  • reasonable

    suggests a fair price, not just a low one

  • inexpensive

    neutral; simply means not costing much

Grammar Patterns

be unaffordable for [someone]

find [something] unaffordable

become / remain unaffordable

Usage Note

Common in the patterns 'unaffordable for [person/group]' and 'find [something] unaffordable'. Frequently used with costs, prices, rent, housing, tuition, and healthcare. The positive form 'affordable' is more frequent in everyday use; 'unaffordable' carries a stronger emotional tone, often implying frustration or inequality.

Common Mistakes

The rent is unaffordable for me to pay.
The rent is unaffordable for me.
'unaffordable' already contains the idea of paying; adding 'to pay' is redundant.
The prices are unaffordable expensive.
The prices are unaffordable.
'unaffordable' already means too expensive; adding 'expensive' is repetitive.
I cannot unafford this car.
This car is unaffordable for me.
'unaffordable' is an adjective, not a verb; use 'be unaffordable' or 'cannot afford'.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All four describe something that costs too much, but they differ in tone and context. 'Unaffordable' is the most neutral and widely used: it simply states that most people cannot pay. 'Prohibitively expensive' is more formal and implies that the cost actively blocks or 'prohibits' an action — for example, 'prohibitively expensive tuition keeps many students out of university.' 'Exorbitant' carries a stronger judgment: it suggests the price is not just high but excessive or unfair ('exorbitant bank fees'). 'Out of reach' is a more informal, figurative expression that can also be used for non-financial goals. In everyday conversation, 'unaffordable' is the safest choice; 'exorbitant' adds frustration, and 'out of reach' adds a sense of disappointment.

unaffordable ↗prohibitively expensiveexorbitant ↗out of reach ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

Prepositions

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishModern English

Formed in English by adding the negative prefix 'un-' to 'affordable'. The word 'affordable' itself comes from the verb 'afford' (from Old English 'geforðian', meaning 'to put forth, accomplish') plus the suffix '-able'. The financial sense of 'afford' ('to have enough money for') developed in the 18th century. 'Affordable' was first recorded around the 1830s, and 'unaffordable' followed soon after as the natural negative form.

First known use

1825

1825, in the meaning defined above