ritzy
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of ritzy
An Americanism first recorded in 1915–20, after the Ritz hotels founded by César Ritz (died 1918), Swiss entrepreneur; see ritz, -y 1
Explanation
Something ritzy is expensive and fancy, like a ritzy living room decorated with heavy brocade curtains and plush velvet cushions. If you're ever invited to a ritzy party, you'll want to dress up in your most luxurious clothes and prepare to enjoy delicious food and opulent decor. The informal adjective ritzy implies luxury that's a little over the top. It was coined around 1910, inspired by the famously elegant Ritz Hotels (™) that César Ritz opened starting internationally in the late 19th century.
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.
He is accused of starting a fire on New Year's Eve 2025 in the mountains overlooking the ritzy neighborhood.
From Barron's • May 4, 2026
At the annual meeting of San Francisco’s ritzy Marina neighborhood last fall, residents buzzed about the hottest property in their nook of the city: a giant, aging Safeway grocery store.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 18, 2026
Those who love gardening tend to prefer quality over ritzy bling.
From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 28, 2025
Usually, this is due to impulse buying and upgrades in your lifestyle — a bigger apartment in a nicer neighborhood, or an extra vacation in a ritzy hotel.
From MarketWatch • Oct. 31, 2025
In the long dress she still felt very ritzy.
From "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter" by Carson McCullers
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.
