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

• lavishness
• generosity
• wastefulness
• prodigality
• extravagancy
• profusion

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

In 2005, that latest extravagance was equivalent to almost half the £1 millions of British aid that Swaziland received in 2004. —The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 15 Aug. 2025

Vibes around Houston and inside the team’s clubhouse have never been higher, highlighted by the raucous scene, endless standing ovations and excessive extravagance during Correa’s return to Daikin Park on Monday night. —Chandler Rome, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2025

By the final decades of the nineteenth century, women were crossing the Atlantic in droves, often in small groups or alongside female family members to soak in its extravagances together. —Jennifer Dasal july 16, Literary Hub, 16 July 2025

High-net-worth individuals are especially vulnerable because their social circles tend to normalize extravagance. —Mike Mess, Forbes.com, 7 July 2025

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