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:
There’s also a hospitality category that outranks all of the others: the Platinum Access packages, which often include luxury accommodations, private suites and private transport.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 20, 2026
Earlier this year in March, American luxury cosmetics maker Estée Lauder fully acquired, external the homegrown ayurvedic company Forest Essentials.
From BBC ● Aug. 19, 2026
Bret dismisses the luxury car as a “two-door tank that was hardly the sporty vehicle” he “longed for.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 19, 2026
None of this is particularly easy or even fun, but it’s a luxury problem to have.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 19, 2026
But we didn't have the luxury of time on our side anymore.
From "Americanized" by Sara Saedi
And some have added other luxuries, like recliner seating and dining options.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 3, 2026
Namely the state-of-the-art, $200-million facility towering over one end of the Trojans’ practice field, with all the luxuries any football coach could ask for.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 1, 2026
This is the freezer as a larder of little luxuries.
From Salon ● Jul. 11, 2026
Carl Erik Rinsch was accused of using Netflix funds intended to complete a science fiction series to buy cars, cryptocurrency and other luxuries for himself.
From BBC ● Jun. 29, 2026
This was a severe period on that plantation, and saw many unhappy restrictions upon the small luxuries and freedoms the servants had been accorded.
From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume II: The Kingdom on the Waves" by M.T. Anderson
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.
