costly

adjective

cost·​ly ˈkȯs(t)-lē How to pronounce costly (audio)
costlier; costliest
1
a
: commanding a high price especially because of intrinsic worth
costly gems
b
2
: made or done at heavy expense or sacrifice
a costly mistake
costliness noun

Examples of costly in a Sentence

We use less costly materials in our products. It was too costly to fix her car after the accident, so she decided to buy a new car instead. They won the game, but their best player was injured, so it was a costly victory. The decision to wait could be a costly mistake.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Opting into a federal voucher program that is costly and ineffective would be irresponsible for our state and our students. Chicago Tribune, 23 July 2025 Georgia farmers are facing a costly and growing threat from an unexpected source − wild pigs. Vanessa Countryman, USA Today, 22 July 2025 The humanitarian community has long wrestled over airdrops, which are costly and difficult to execute. Chris Boccia, ABC News, 22 July 2025 The Hidden Cost Of Executive Self-Protection In boardrooms and strategy sessions globally, talented executives are making the same costly mistake: optimizing for personal safety instead of business outcomes. John Kania, Forbes.com, 22 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for costly

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of costly was in the 14th century

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Cite this Entry

“Costly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/costly. Accessed 27 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

costly

adjective
cost·​ly ˈkȯs(t)-lē How to pronounce costly (audio)
costlier; costliest
1
: of great cost or value
costly furs
2
: gained at great expense or sacrifice
a costly victory
costliness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on costly

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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