inexpensive

American  

[in-ik-spen-siv] / ˌɪn ɪkˈspɛn sɪv /

adjective

1. not expensive; not high in price; costing little.

   Antonyms:

   costly

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inexpensive British  

/ ˌɪnɪkˈspɛnsɪv /

adjective

1. not expensive; cheap

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Related Words

See cheap.

Other Word Forms

• inexpensively adverb
• inexpensiveness noun

Etymology

Origin of inexpensive

First recorded in 1830–40; in- ³ + expensive

Explanation

Anything that's inexpensive doesn't cost a lot. The inexpensive camping trip your family takes, instead of flying first class to Disney World, might turn out to be a lot of fun! Inexpensive things are affordable, sometimes because they're cheaply made, but often because they're reasonably priced. Check out the thrift stores before you buy those $200 jeans — you might find an inexpensive used pair that looks identical! Or cook an inexpensive meal at home instead of eating at a fancy restaurant, and you'll have money to splurge on dessert. The Latin root of expensive means "weigh out money," and the prefix in- means "not."

Example Sentences

Unlike silicon, which requires ultra-pure single-crystal wafers, these materials can be produced using inexpensive solution-based methods while delivering comparable performance.

From Science Daily • Apr. 10, 2026

And many of them are starting to look inexpensive.

From Barron's • Apr. 9, 2026

In contrast, private-market companies may look inexpensive, but that discount reflects the uncertainty and headwinds they face.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 30, 2026

You knew as you rolled up what you were getting and that it was going to be so inexpensive you didn’t have to think twice.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 20, 2026

Effective and inexpensive methods of local control have been known for years.

From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson

Related Words

• cheap
• economical
• low-cost
• low-priced
• modest
• popular
• reasonable