big-ticket

adjective

big-tick·​et ˈbig-ˈti-kət 

1

: having a high price

the car was a big-ticket item

2

: having great importance or prominence : major

The founders had hoped to address three big-ticket issues: the environment, nuclear weapons, and Middle East peace.

—David Corn

Synonyms

• costly
• dear
• expensive
• extravagant
• high
• high-end
• high-ticket
• precious
• premium
• priceless
• pricey
• pricy
• spendy [chiefly Northwest]
• ultraexpensive
• valuable

Examples of big-ticket in a Sentence

with the tough economy, fewer people are likely to be making big-ticket purchases

Recent Examples on the Web

Maybe Beane could work some contract magic for a big-ticket free agent, fans hoped. —Tim Graham, The Athletic, 24 Jan. 2025

For its part, Prestige Memorabilia is no stranger to bringing big-ticket tennis items up for sale. —Tori Latham, Robb Report, 24 Jan. 2025

But in his most recent role, Osceola worked alongside the tribe’s chairman to steer dollars and attention to the tribe’s preferred Everglades Restoration projects, as well as bring in big-ticket federal grants for resilience projects. —Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 23 Jan. 2025

Shah, the most powerful administrator in cricket, is keen on trumpeting the big-ticket items. —Tristan Lavalette, Forbes, 22 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1933, in the meaning defined at sense 1