extravagance
noun
ex·trav·a·gance
ik-ˈstra-vi-gən(t)s 
1
a
: an instance of excess or prodigality
specifically
: an excessive outlay of money
b
: something extravagant
a new car is an extravagance we can't afford
2
: the quality or fact of being extravagant
the extravagance of the decorations
Examples of extravagance in a Sentence
The reorganization of the department was aimed at reducing extravagance.
That coat is an extravagance that you can't afford.
Going to the play will be our one extravagance for this vacation.
I was shocked by the extravagance of their lifestyle.
The church is known for the extravagance of its architecture.
Recent Examples on the Web
Each new suite chronicles a distinct design epoch: the early 20th-century Edwardian era; the glamorous art deco period of the 1920s and ‘30s; the innovative mid-century golden age of the 1950s and '60s; and the glittering extravagance that defined the 1980s Dynasty-era aesthetics.
—
Regan Stephens, Travel + Leisure, 14 Apr. 2025
The White Lotus has gone from a popular television series to a phenomenon with fans seeking to live the extravagance seen on the show.
—Dana Feldman, Forbes.com, 7 Apr. 2025
The White Lotus has gone from a popular television series to a phenomenon with fans seeking to live the extravagance seen on the show.
—Dana Feldman, Forbes.com, 7 Apr. 2025
In a city where a growing economic divide sometimes shows up most prominently in classrooms, this kind of extravagance is out of reach for most students.
—Dionne Searcey, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for extravagance
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Regan Stephens, Travel + Leisure, 14 Apr. 2025
The White Lotus has gone from a popular television series to a phenomenon with fans seeking to live the extravagance seen on the show.
—Dana Feldman, Forbes.com, 7 Apr. 2025
The White Lotus has gone from a popular television series to a phenomenon with fans seeking to live the extravagance seen on the show.
—Dana Feldman, Forbes.com, 7 Apr. 2025
In a city where a growing economic divide sometimes shows up most prominently in classrooms, this kind of extravagance is out of reach for most students.
—Dionne Searcey, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for extravagance
Cite this Entry
“Extravagance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/extravagance. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
extravagance
noun
ex·trav·a·gance
ik-ˈstrav-i-gən(t)s
1
a
: the wasteful or careless spending of money
b
: something that is extravagant
2
: the quality or fact of being extravagant
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