extravagance

American  

[ik-strav-uh-guhns] / ɪkˈstræv ə gəns /

noun

• extravagances
  plural

1. excessive or unnecessary expenditure or outlay of money.

   Antonyms:

   frugality

2. an instance of this.

   That sports car is an inexcusable extravagance.

3. unrestrained or fantastic excess, as of actions or opinions.

   Synonyms:

   profusion, lavishness

4. an extravagant action, notion, etc..

   the extravagances one commits in moments of stress.

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extravagance British  

/ ɪkˈstrævəɡəns /

noun

1. excessive outlay of money; wasteful spending

2. immoderate or absurd speech or behaviour

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• extravagances
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of extravagance

1635–45; < French, Middle French; see extravagant, -ance

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Explanation

Use the noun extravagance when you're talking about something that's over the top, especially when it comes to spending money. Ordering a $500 hamburger for dinner would be an extravagance. Money is usually the subject when people talk about extravagance, although the word can also mean having too much of something, whether it's anger or flowery wallpaper. In Latin, the root word extravagari means "wander outside or beyond," and originally extravagance was used to describe something that was unusual — "wandering outside" the norm. It wasn't until the 1700s that the word became associated specifically with spending too much money.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

extravagance extravagances

Exotic flavors such as yuzu and seaweed are slightly more, while black truffle is an extravagance at nearly €17.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 23, 2026

The prima donna in extremis in Pearl Cleage’s “Angry, Raucous, and Shamelessly Gorgeous,” which is having its Los Angeles premiere at the Geffen Playhouse, has an air of Bette Davis extravagance to her.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 19, 2026

Trust that if you’ve never enjoyed your eggs with such extravagance and complexity, it will change your palate for the better.

From Salon ● Mar. 21, 2026

The former first lady, now 60, gained a reputation, and criticism, over the years for her alleged appetite for shopping and extravagance, earning her the moniker "Gucci Grace".

From BBC ● Mar. 11, 2026

My daily budget was a quickly spent twelve dollars, and every extravagance called for a corresponding sacrifice.

From "Me Talk Pretty One Day" by David Sedaris

Saudi Arabia is focusing on Vision 2030's more pragmatic ventures as extravagances like NEOM, a futuristic city in the desert, and Riyadh's cuboid skyscraper Mukaab, are scaled back or scrapped to save costs.

From Barron's ● Jun. 10, 2026

Prosecutors say Mr Biden "wilfully" failed to either pay or file his taxes to the Internal Revenue Service from 2016 to 2019, instead spending his money on personal extravagances.

From BBC ● Jan. 11, 2024

Otherwise Nick and the various characters peel groups of audience members away to separate rooms off the main ballroom: lounges and boudoirs styled with domestic extravagances of the time, including tufted velvet couches and chaises.

From New York Times ● Jun. 29, 2023

But then they pay off their debts and the taxes on their winnings, and indulge in a few extravagances.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 7, 2023

Though all his others break, this shall forever hold, regardless of how many gallant extravagances he may put on it.

From "The Book of Three" by Lloyd Alexander

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Related Words

• absurdity
• exaggeration
• excess
• luxury
• squandering

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