pricey
Americanadjective
adjective
Usage
What does pricey mean? Pricey describes something that is expensive or unreasonably expensive, as in Talya wanted to go on the world cruise, but the tickets were so pricey. Pricey is a highly subjective description, because everyone’s budget is different and everyone’s opinion about what an acceptable price is for a product or service varies. You’ll use pricey most often when you think the cost of something is much higher than you want to pay, whether or not a majority of people think that same item is pricey. You might also use pricey to describe something that is more expensive than others like it but that provides a higher value or quality in return. In this case, pricey would be an acceptable quality. Example: The hotel was a bit pricey, but we had a good time.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of pricey
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.
Several times, in cities where hotels seemed too pricey or too sketchy, he and his mom slept in their SUV.
From Los Angeles Times • May 12, 2026
A chip-manufacturing complex, AI satellites, and space facilities add to a pricey project list at Elon Musk’s company.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 7, 2026
Right now, that means not chasing the artificial-intelligence stocks that are looking pricey.
From Barron's • May 5, 2026
You will face pricey healthcare premiums for the 10 years until you qualify for Medicare.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 28, 2026
She lived in one of the pricey rooms on the first floor with her husband, Mr. Nash, who worked as a photographer on State Street.
From "The Detective's Assistant" by Kate Hannigan
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.
