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

Synonyms

• extravagancy
• lavishness
• prodigality
• profusion
• wastefulness

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

Visitors were known to poke fun at the extravagance on display in his estate. —Liz McNeil, People.com, 7 Dec. 2024

The extravagance is evident before entering the gaming area, where visitors are greeted by a multimillion-dollar digital sculpture, one of only two in the United States, Amos said. —Samantha Moilanen, Chicago Tribune, 7 Nov. 2024

Featuring a transformative performance by Spanish trans actress Karla Sofia Gascón, and revelatory turns by Zoë Saldaña and Selena Gomez, the all-singing, all-dancing extravagance is best experienced on the big screen, but Audiard’s audacious storytelling shines through on any platform. —Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 28 Nov. 2024

The collections are shown in a way that portray important moments in Portugal’s history while detailing the extravagance of how royalty lived in the 18th and 19th centuries. —Anthony Demarco, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1640, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids 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