inexpensive
Americanadjective
adjective
Synonym Usage
See cheap.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of inexpensive
Explanation
Anything that's inexpensive doesn't cost a lot. The inexpensive camping trip your family takes, instead of flying first class to Disney World, might turn out to be a lot of fun! Inexpensive things are affordable, sometimes because they're cheaply made, but often because they're reasonably priced. Check out the thrift stores before you buy those $200 jeans — you might find an inexpensive used pair that looks identical! Or cook an inexpensive meal at home instead of eating at a fancy restaurant, and you'll have money to splurge on dessert. The Latin root of expensive means "weigh out money," and the prefix in- means "not."
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The annual premium is equivalent to 0.24% of the policy’s face amount, making this an inexpensive way to maintain substantial coverage for someone in their early 60s.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 9, 2026
Experts are increasingly warning of a "China shock 2.0", with a glut of inexpensive goods made in the Asian powerhouse threatening manufacturers around the world as trade deficits widen.
From Barron's • Jun. 9, 2026
These ETFs are relatively inexpensive, typically with an expense ratio of 0.15% to 1.5%, are easy to buy through major online brokerages and trading platforms, and are regulated by the SEC.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 7, 2026
“A little smoked paprika sprinkled over the cheese before it melts also gives a nice, complex flavor boost. Both are inexpensive ways to make it feel less like a frozen meal.”
From Salon • May 30, 2026
Standing on the dim porch, he wore an inexpensive suit and a shirt with a pointy collar that had lost most of its starch.
From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
