pricey
Americanadjective
-
pricier,
comparative
-
priciest
superlative
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
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Adjectives
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.
See Examples For:
She admits it can be pricey but says she doesn't mind spending a little more as an occasional treat.
From BBC ● Oct. 6, 2026
Williams bought his son a $60 used bat, avoids pricey out-of-state tournaments and practices with his son at a local park rather than paying for private lessons.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 4, 2026
Per Dunmoyer, it’s one of the top two reasons housing here is so pricey.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026
A return to industrial musicals in the age of A.I. didn’t strike me as a solution for all the woes afflicting the performing arts, from pricey tickets to the increasingly blatant corporatization of the arts.
From Slate ● Oct. 1, 2026
“The dresses from Cindy’s are pretty pricey and she’d have to order something for you, but maybe we can put something together ourselves.”
From "Dumplin'" by Julie Murphy
Chipotle shares, meanwhile, have fallen 11.7% over that period, amid a bigger fast-casual slump and malaise over pricier “slop bowls” that have become a staple in that segment of the restaurant industry.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 8, 2026
While Austin is one of the more expensive cities in Texas, its cost of living is relatively moderate compared with pricier cities on the East and West coasts.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 22, 2026
It can also make them pricier to run.
From BBC ● Sep. 21, 2026
Selling pricier products, he reflected, meant higher-maintenance customers expected better decor and staff.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 14, 2026
Nevertheless, for households in the 21-nation euro area, another hike will still mean pricier mortgages, consumer credit and other loans.
From Barron's ● Sep. 10, 2026
AMD, Marvell, Corning, and Bloom Energy were among the priciest stocks hit by valuation declines, according to Trivariate Research.
From Barron's ● Oct. 12, 2026
At $130 million, it’s one of the priciest home sales ever in Los Angeles — but perhaps a bargain, depending on how you look at it.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 30, 2026
The city’s priciest neighborhoods become particularly clogged each summer as drivers escaping the Gulf’s scorching heat arrive with Ferraris, Lamborghinis and McLarens bearing Middle East license plates.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 1, 2026
The priciest options are designed especially for athletes, and Dos Santos -- who himself lost two legs in a car accident -- has visited this cohort following the quakes.
From Barron's ● Aug. 15, 2026
Once a lonely outpost, Sing Sing now occupies fifty-five acres of prime real estate in suburban Westchester, one of the priciest counties in the United States.
From "Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing" by Ted Conover
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