extravagance

American  

[ik-strav-uh-guhns] / ɪkˈstræv ə gəns /

noun

• extravagances
  plural

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 British  

/ ɪkˈstrævəɡəns /

noun

1. excessive outlay of money; wasteful spending

2. immoderate or absurd speech or behaviour

---

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• extravagances
  plural

Etymology

Origin of extravagance

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

Explanation

Use the noun extravagance when you're talking about something that's over the top, especially when it comes to spending money. Ordering a $500 hamburger for dinner would be an extravagance. Money is usually the subject when people talk about extravagance, although the word can also mean having too much of something, whether it's anger or flowery wallpaper. In Latin, the root word extravagari means "wander outside or beyond," and originally extravagance was used to describe something that was unusual — "wandering outside" the norm. It wasn't until the 1700s that the word became associated specifically with spending too much money.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

extravagance extravagances

Photos and videos from Dakorien’s prom went viral on Instagram—with thousands of fans and friends alike remarking on the extravagance of the occasion.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 6, 2026

There was eloquent solo playing in the orchestra, and extravagance from the solo singers.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 24, 2026

"We don't need all that extravagance to find our soulmate. The channel isn't as essential as it used to be," agreed Roslin Dantin, a 30-year-old cattle farmer.

From Barron's ● Feb. 12, 2026

He says most buyers are not chasing extravagance as much as efficiency.

From BBC ● Feb. 8, 2026

My father supported him at school, and afterwards at Cambridge—most important assistance, as his own father, always poor from the extravagance of his wife, would have been unable to give him a gentleman’s education.

From "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen

Saudi Arabia is focusing on Vision 2030's more pragmatic ventures as extravagances like NEOM, a futuristic city in the desert, and Riyadh's cuboid skyscraper Mukaab, are scaled back or scrapped to save costs.

From Barron's ● Jun. 10, 2026

Prosecutors say Mr Biden "wilfully" failed to either pay or file his taxes to the Internal Revenue Service from 2016 to 2019, instead spending his money on personal extravagances.

From BBC ● Jan. 11, 2024

Otherwise Nick and the various characters peel groups of audience members away to separate rooms off the main ballroom: lounges and boudoirs styled with domestic extravagances of the time, including tufted velvet couches and chaises.

From New York Times ● Jun. 29, 2023

But then they pay off their debts and the taxes on their winnings, and indulge in a few extravagances.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 7, 2023

“I’m glad of it, that’s one of your foolish extravagances, sending flowers and things to girls for whom you don’t care two pins,” continued Jo reprovingly.

From "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott

Related Words

• absurdity
• exaggeration
• excess
• luxury
• squandering