pricey

or pric·y

[ prahy-see ]

adjective

, pric·i·er, pric·i·est.

1. expensive or unduly expensive:

   a pricey wine.

pricey

/ ˈpraɪsɪ /

adjective

1. See expensive
   an informal word for expensive

Other Words From

• prici·ly adverb
• pricey·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of pricey¹

First recorded in 1930–35; price + -y ¹

Example Sentences

I typically like cozy-casual neighborhood places, and a pricey slab of beef with a vat of bearnaise sauce isn’t my usual jam.

From Washington Post

This Sunday Magazine dives into what’s next for the world of ads, what’s behind the pricey spots you’ll see between touchdowns and punts today — and whether they work at all.

From Ozy

Admittedly it’s pretty pricey—although earlier models are less expensive and still packed with features.

From Popular-Science

Smithsonian partners with PBS to share educational programs online A Baltimore art museum tried to raise money by selling three pricey paintings.

From Washington Post

There’s no denying the stock is trading at pricey multiples after its over 395% trek higher in 2020.

From Fortune

RSD offers a number of pricey products in service of that mission.

From The Daily Beast

There are even electronics like iPhone and iPod docking stations and an assortment of pricey pens intended for the pontiff.

From The Daily Beast

And a lot of the time, especially in my case, doing pricey clothes, the husband was paying for them.

From The Daily Beast

But the procedure, unlike scam solutions marketed online—miracle tonics, pricey at-home laser therapy combs—absolutely works.

From The Daily Beast

The cable operators think the NFL is too pricey for them and have not been keen to do a deal.

From The Daily Beast

And so Suzanne got on an airplane that night and flew back to San Jose and took a pricey taxi back to her place.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• arbitrary
• excessive
• exorbitant
• extreme
• illegitimate
• improper
• inordinate
• senseless
• unconscionable
• undue
• unfair
• unjust
• unjustifiable
• unlawful
• unwarranted
• wrongful

More About Pricey

What does pricey mean?

Pricey describes something that is expensive or unreasonably expensive, as in Talya wanted to go on the world cruise, but the tickets were so pricey. 

Pricey is a highly subjective description, because everyone’s budget is different and everyone’s opinion about what an acceptable price is for a product or service varies. You’ll use pricey most often when you think the cost of something is much higher than you want to pay, whether or not a majority of people think that same item is pricey.

You might also use pricey to describe something that is more expensive than others like it but that provides a higher value or quality in return. In this case, pricey would be an acceptable quality.

Example: The hotel was a bit pricey, but we had a good time.

Where does pricey come from?

The first records of the term pricey are from around the 1930s. It combines the term price, meaning “the amount something is bought for,” and the suffix -y, which creates adjectives meaning “characterized by or inclined to.”

Pricey is always used informally but is sometimes used in reviews or journalism. When critics review a place or product, they may consider the cost of the item as part of the review and may use pricey to describe something they think is overpriced. Pricey is also frequently used to describe neighborhoods and cities that have an above-average property value or rental cost.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to pricey?

• pricier (adjective)
• priciest (adjective)
• pricily (adverb)
• priceyness (noun)

What are some synonyms for pricey?

• valuable
• costly
• exorbitant
• expensive
• extravagant

What are some words that share a root or word element with pricey? 

• price
• price tag
• price war

What are some words that often get used in discussing pricey?

• fancy
• lavish
• premium

How is pricey used in real life?

Pricey is most frequently used as a negative feature.

 

ʷʰʸ ʷʰʸ ʷʰʸ
ʷʰʸ ʷʰʸ ʷʰʸ ʷʰʸ
ʷʰʸ why are tickets so pricey ʷʰʸ
ʷʰʸ ʷʰʸ

— Vibe Tickets (@VibeTickets) March 18, 2018

And @Marriott why your Pringles 9 dollars come on your rooms already pricey cut me a deal on the snacks 😡

— Nick Bean (@ItsNickBean) April 26, 2016

Holly and I don't really have family that we celebrate Christmas with here in LA and traveling to Australia is a bit pricey and difficult. A friend of ours is stuck working Christmas morning at a cafe so we're just going to go join her and drink coffee. I'm okay with that.

— Ross O'Donovan (@RubberNinja) December 25, 2017

 

Try using pricey!

Which of the following is NOT a synonym for pricey?

A. expensive
B. exorbitant
C. budgeted
D. costly