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Definition of expensive

expensive

/ɪkˈspɛn.sɪv/
ex · pen · sive
Adverb:expensively
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expensive Lexical Profile

expensive Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Costing a great deal of money; having a high price.

Example

"Fresh seafood can be quite expensive in landlocked regions far from the coast."

2

Entailing great loss, sacrifice, effort, or non-monetary cost.

Example

"Ignoring early signs of structural wear proved to be an expensive mistake for the engineering firm."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for expensive

• Nearby Words

expenditrix
expenditure
expense
expensive
expensively
expensiveness
experience

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in the early 17th century from the noun 'expense' and the suffix '-ive', ultimately tracing back to the Latin verb 'expendere' ('to weigh out money' or 'to pay'), formed from 'ex-' ('out') and 'pendere' ('to weigh'). Originally used to describe a person who was lavish or extravagant in spending money, it soon shifted to describe things that cost a great deal.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Expensive. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/expensive
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