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

Recent Examples on the Web

Consumers can already choose to buy and sell things — even big-ticket items like cars — with the touch of a button. —Maria Williams, USA TODAY, 20 Apr. 2024

The hope is that the brick-and-mortar store will spur consumers to buy more, as discretionary spending on big-ticket items online, such as the furniture that is Wayfair’s bread and butter, has plunged since the end of the pandemic. —Chris Morris, Fortune, 19 Apr. 2024

It’s born from Modi’s unique appeal, which blends Hindu nationalism, personal charisma, big-ticket infrastructure spending and generous welfare programs into a powerful pitch that overshadows his failure to deliver enough jobs to precisely these voters. —Gerry Shih, Washington Post, 18 Apr. 2024

But after Stone and Coleman vacated their seats, votes on big-ticket items slowed in the House. —Arpan Lobo, Detroit Free Press, 16 Apr. 2024

And prices for big-ticket durable items – think autos, furniture and appliances – continue to decline. —Jonathan Lansner, Orange County Register, 10 Apr. 2024

That’s your big-ticket purchase for 2027 sorted, then. —Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 3 Apr. 2024

Many are increasingly using the loans for daily essentials, not just big-ticket purchases. —J.j. McCorvey, NBC News, 30 Mar. 2024

Consumers remain gloomy about the state of the economy and their ability to make big-ticket purchases. —Melvin Backman, Quartz, 29 Mar. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1933, in the meaning defined at sense 1