extravagance

[ik-strav-uh-guhns]

noun

1. excessive or unnecessary expenditure or outlay of money.

   Antonyms: frugality

2. an instance of this.

   That sports car is an inexcusable extravagance.

3. unrestrained or fantastic excess, as of actions or opinions.

   Synonyms: profusion, lavishness

4. an extravagant action, notion, etc..

   the extravagances one commits in moments of stress.

extravagance

/ ɪkˈstrævəɡəns /

noun

1. excessive outlay of money; wasteful spending

2. immoderate or absurd speech or behaviour

Word History and Origins

Origin of extravagance¹

1635–45; < French, Middle French; extravagant, -ance

Example Sentences

Celebrated for decades as Hollywood royalty, Jane Fonda could easily be living a comfortable life of extravagance and leisure.

From Los Angeles Times

He has regularly defended himself as a proponent of the fight against corruption and extravagance, telling the BBC in 2015 that he was "the only president in Africa that travels commercial".

From BBC

Over the next few months he noticed more of what he saw as extravagances, posted on social media by politicians and their children - exotic holidays, pictures showing off mansions, supercars and designer handbags.

From BBC

But as a born-and-raised Californian, Charlotte wants to satisfy the sprawling city’s need for extravagance.

From Los Angeles Times

Grynbaum, who writes about media, politics and culture for the New York Times and grew up reading Condé Nast magazines, was struck hard by that extravagance.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• absurdity 
• exaggeration 
• excess 
• luxury 
• squandering www.thesaurus.com