luxury
Americannoun
-
luxuries
plural
-
a material object, service, etc., conducive to sumptuous living, usually a delicacy, elegance, or refinement of living rather than a necessity.
Gold cufflinks were a luxury not allowed for in his budget.
-
free or habitual indulgence in or enjoyment of comforts and pleasures in addition to those necessary for a reasonable standard of well-being.
a life of luxury on the French Riviera.
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a means of ministering to such indulgence or enjoyment.
This travel plan gives you the luxury of choosing which countries you can visit.
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a pleasure out of the ordinary allowed to oneself.
the luxury of an extra piece of the cake.
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a foolish or worthless form of self-indulgence.
the luxury of self-pity.
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Archaic. lust; lasciviousness; lechery.
adjective
noun
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indulgence in and enjoyment of rich, comfortable, and sumptuous living
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(sometimes plural) something that is considered an indulgence rather than a necessity
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something pleasant and satisfying
the luxury of independence
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(modifier) relating to, indicating, or supplying luxury
a luxury liner
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of luxury
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English luxurie, from Latin luxuria “rankness, luxuriance,” equivalent to luxur- (combining form of luxus “extravagance”) + -ia noun suffix; see -y 3
Explanation
A luxury is something that is pleasant to have or experience, but it is not necessary. For example, eating in a restaurant is a luxury — you can always cook and eat at home. In its earliest days, luxury meant "excess that is sinfully self-indulgent." Over time, this definition softened, losing the air of judgment, but retaining the sense that a luxury is enjoyable or comfortable, but not necessary. We often think of a luxury as something costly, but this isn't always so. For example, being able to sleep late or live within walking distance of loved ones or a beautiful forest can also be luxuries.
Vocabulary lists containing luxury
"Principles of Business," Vocabulary from Chapter 1
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Cormac McCarthy's "The Road"
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"The Necklace" and "The Fashion Show"
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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.
See Examples For:
Porsche CEO Michael Leiters unveiled a turnaround plan focused on luxury pricing, cost cuts and a performance-driven culture.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2026
Demonstrators said the bird would become extinct on an island near the coastal city of Vlora, if the plans for a luxury development went ahead.
From BBC ● Oct. 16, 2026
It is a quiet sort of luxury, one I don’t flaunt, but one I don’t apologize for either.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2026
As the city has continued to grow, it has earned a reputation for its distinct brand of laid-back luxury, offering residents a bustling culture, mild weather, and a reasonably-priced cost of living.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 16, 2026
People clap and “oooh” like Crick is delivering each of them a luxury hovercraft instead of colored juice.
From "The Last Cuentista" by Donna Barba Higuera
Airlines are overhauling their airplane cabins to tap in to growing demand for travel luxuries.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 29, 2026
There, the discussion shifted from seven-part heroes’ journeys centered on skipping little luxuries like Starbucks to drink-based dominance theory.
From Salon ● Sep. 23, 2026
She adds: "We're trying to manage our expenses as best we can, but we've definitely had to cut back on all of our extra spending and small luxuries."
From BBC ● Aug. 25, 2026
And some have added other luxuries, like recliner seating and dining options.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 3, 2026
As a family, we sustained ourselves with humble luxuries.
From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
