costly

adjective

cost·​ly ˈkȯs(t)-lē 

costlier; costliest

1

a

: commanding a high price especially because of intrinsic worth

costly gems

b

: rich, splendid

2

: made or done at heavy expense or sacrifice

a costly mistake

costliness noun

Synonyms

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

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

His slow start could have been costly – first impressions go a long way with awards voters. —Tony East, Forbes.com, 24 May 2025

While iPhones have always been costly, experts agree a new tariff environment and pressure from President Donald Trump to make them in the U.S. are likely to drive their prices higher. —Rachel Barber, USA Today, 24 May 2025

Tending to your gut can feel like a complicated—and costly—endeavor. —Erica Sloan, SELF, 23 May 2025

Trump's post suggests that iPhones will be subject to tariffs regardless of their country of origin, which could be costly for those looking to upgrade to the iPhone 17 later this year. —Chloe Albanesius, PC Magazine, 23 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

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

Kids Definition

costly

adjective

cost·​ly ˈkȯs(t)-lē 

costlier; costliest

1

: of great cost or value

costly furs

2

: gained at great expense or sacrifice

a costly victory

costliness noun