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

At an El Paso car dealer network, Casa Auto Group, salespeople said prospective buyers have started asking why they don’t offer something as inexpensive as the Chinese cars sold just miles away in Mexico.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 29, 2026

They can focus instead on relatively inexpensive defensive capabilities.

From Barron's • Apr. 27, 2026

Taxis are inexpensive and most rides are less than $3.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 19, 2026

The manufacturing process is simple and inexpensive, and the additive printing method places material only where it is needed, reducing waste.

From Science Daily • Apr. 18, 2026

I had even bought some inexpensive sets with my own allowance.

From "Red Scarf Girl: A Memoir of the Cultural Revolution" by Ji-li Jiang

Related Words

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