luxury
Americannoun
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luxuries
plural
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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.
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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:
Analysts and executives say that has contributed to a widened gap between luxury brands geared toward the ultrarich, and those that cater to everyone else.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 4, 2026
This leaves luxury brands reliant on a narrow group of ultrawealthy consumers who are still spending.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 3, 2026
Elsewhere on Saturday, French luxury house Hermes presented its women's collection in the courtyard of the elite Republican Guard police unit in Paris, making the zip its leitmotif and the ultra-fine strap an accessory.
From Barron's ● Oct. 3, 2026
Global luxury sales have barely grown in three years.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 3, 2026
But stripped of the luxury of snobbery, the two became thick as the thieves they now were, at least according to the Third Reich.
From "Not Nothing" by Gayle Forman
The CAC 40 climbs 0.5% higher as luxuries rally.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 23, 2026
When Phoebe Novack and Brian Aggrey married in 2023, they eschewed a traditional registry for household luxuries or a modern honeymoon fund.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 3, 2026
And some have added other luxuries, like recliner seating and dining options.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 3, 2026
"When you're working to live, these aren't small sums of money. It wasn't for luxuries, it was to survive. I was working to pay my bills," Joan adds.
From BBC ● Aug. 1, 2026
But the luxuries of which Snowball had once taught the animals to dream, the stalls with electric light and hot and cold water, and the three-day week, were no longer talked about.
From "Animal Farm: A Fairy Story" by George Orwell
Definitions 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.
