inexpensive
Americanadjective
adjective
Related Words
See cheap.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of inexpensive
Explanation
Anything that's inexpensive doesn't cost a lot. The inexpensive camping trip your family takes, instead of flying first class to Disney World, might turn out to be a lot of fun! Inexpensive things are affordable, sometimes because they're cheaply made, but often because they're reasonably priced. Check out the thrift stores before you buy those $200 jeans — you might find an inexpensive used pair that looks identical! Or cook an inexpensive meal at home instead of eating at a fancy restaurant, and you'll have money to splurge on dessert. The Latin root of expensive means "weigh out money," and the prefix in- means "not."
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.
Soon, Canada will allow tens of thousands of inexpensive Chinese EVs to be imported.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 29, 2026
The S&P 500 is hardly inexpensive at 21 times forward earnings, above its 10-year average of 19.
From Barron's • Apr. 24, 2026
Taxis are inexpensive and most rides are less than $3.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 19, 2026
The manufacturing process is simple and inexpensive, and the additive printing method places material only where it is needed, reducing waste.
From Science Daily • Apr. 18, 2026
He judged me by that and indicated a place where lodging was inexpensive.
From "Black Like Me" by John Howard Griffin
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.
