pricey

Or pric·y

[prahy-see]

adjective

pricier, priciest 

1. expensive or unduly expensive.

   a pricey wine.

pricey

/ ˈpraɪsɪ /

adjective

1. an informal word for expensive

Other Word Forms

• pricily adverb
• priceyness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of pricey¹

First recorded in 1930–35; price + -y ¹

Example Sentences

République is so pricey, but they have such yummy pastries and quiches.

From Los Angeles Times

Viewers who ditched pricey cable bundles in favor of cheaper streaming services have found their total monthly subscriptions are adding up.

From Los Angeles Times

One might think that $2 million would be enough to buy a comeback, the pricey Iamaleava making his first appearance after storming out of Tennessee last spring when the Volunteers wouldn’t pay up.

From Los Angeles Times

The cost of attending one Formula 1 race is pricey enough, but is it possible to attend all 24 grands prix this season on a £20,000 budget?

From BBC

Festival passes are pricey and limited in number, which makes Telluride feel at once intimate and exclusive.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• arbitrary 
• excessive 
• exorbitant 
• extreme 
• illegitimate 
• improper 
• inordinate 
• senseless 
• unconscionable 
• undue 
• unfair 
• unjust 
• unjustifiable 
• unlawful 
• unwarranted 
• wrongful 

When To Use

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.