exorbitant

American  

[ig-zawr-bi-tuhnt] / ɪgˈzɔr bɪ tənt /

adjective

1. exceeding the bounds of custom, propriety, or reason, especially in amount or extent; highly excessive.

   to charge an exorbitant price; exorbitant luxury.

2. Archaic. outside the authority of the law.

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exorbitant British  

/ ɪɡˈzɔːbɪtənt /

adjective

1. (of prices, demands, etc) in excess of what is reasonable; excessive; extravagant; immoderate

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Other Word Forms

• exorbitance noun
• exorbitantly adverb
• unexorbitant adjective
• unexorbitantly adverb

Etymology

Origin of exorbitant

1425–75; late Middle English < Late Latin exorbitant- (stem of exorbitāns, present participle of exorbitāre to go out of the track), equivalent to ex- ex- ¹ + orbit ( a ) wheel track ( orbit ) + -ant- -ant

Example Sentences

So far the status of the dollar as the world’s dominant global currency, and therefore the U.S.’s so-called “exorbitant privilege” of being able to run sustained balance-of-payments deficits without penalty, has remained intact.

From Barron's

Almost 60 years ago a miffed French politician dubbed the dollar system an “exorbitant privilege.”

From The Wall Street Journal

Travel said that there is a "culture" of airlines using "low headline fares, then charging exorbitant prices on top to take a standard cabin bag".

From BBC

The cost of borrowing the shares for a short sale is exorbitant, if an investor could find someone to lend them.

From The Wall Street Journal

It said the lack of available places in legitimate settings had led to a shadow market of illegal care homes which charge "exorbitant fees".

From BBC

Related Words

• enormous
• inordinate
• outrageous
• pricey
• steep
• unconscionable
• unreasonable
• unwarranted