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 of big-ticket

• expensive
• valuable
• costly
• premium

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

Shoppers can save on big-ticket items like this Bissell carpet and upholstery cleaner that’s earned best-seller status and a Levoit tower fan that can offer a breeze during the in-between weather of early fall. — Clara McMahon, PEOPLE, 17 Sep. 2026

Macy’s received $116 million in tariff refunds from the government, Macy’s Chief Executive Tony Spring said, and some of those proceeds are being used to lower prices on certain big-ticket items such as furniture and fine jewelry. — Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2026

Higher yields can pour cold water on consumers’ ability and confidence to purchase big-ticket items. — Alex Harring, CNBC, 16 Sep. 2026

Another big-ticket item is the 1974 Frankenthaler green-and-blue abstraction Return and Exit, with a high estimate of $2 million. — Brian Boucher For Artnews, Robb Report, 16 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1933, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for big-ticket

• chicot
• cricket
• picket
• picot
• thicket
• ticket
• wicket