extravagance

noun

ex·​trav·​a·​gance ik-ˈstra-vi-gən(t)s How to pronounce extravagance (audio)
1
a
: an instance of excess or prodigality
specifically : an excessive outlay of money
b
: something extravagant
a new car is an extravagance we can't afford
2
: the quality or fact of being extravagant
the extravagance of the decorations

Examples of extravagance in a Sentence

The reorganization of the department was aimed at reducing extravagance. That coat is an extravagance that you can't afford. Going to the play will be our one extravagance for this vacation. I was shocked by the extravagance of their lifestyle. The church is known for the extravagance of its architecture.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recession-core is the theory that fashion trends not only reflect but also predict economic downturns, with minimalism and the absence of extravagance signaling economic flux. Tiana Randall, Forbes, 3 Mar. 2025 But the Mill Basin house failed to sell quickly, and with each price chop, there were headlines mocking its design, its extravagance, its connection to Rosatti. Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 3 Mar. 2025 Earlier in spring training, Cashman was asked about the Yankees’ ability to compete with the Dodgers — who doubled down with a post-championship spending spree this past winter — and Mets’ extravagance in recent years. Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 21 Feb. 2025 Nothing in his filmography suggests the sort of comprehensive extravagance that this film delivers from start to finish. Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 14 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for extravagance

Word History

First Known Use

1640, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of extravagance was in 1640

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Cite this Entry

“Extravagance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/extravagance. Accessed 27 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

extravagance

noun
ex·​trav·​a·​gance ik-ˈstrav-i-gən(t)s How to pronounce extravagance (audio)
1
a
: the wasteful or careless spending of money
b
: something that is extravagant
2
: the quality or fact of being extravagant

More from Merriam-Webster on extravagance

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