luxury

noun

lux·​u·​ry ˈlək-sh(ə-)rē  -zh(ə-)rē 

plural luxuries

1

: a condition of abundance or great ease and comfort : sumptuous environment

lived in luxury

2

a

: something adding to pleasure or comfort but not absolutely necessary

one of life's luxuries

b

: an indulgence in something that provides pleasure, satisfaction, or ease

… had the luxury of rejecting a handful of job offers …

—Terri Minsky

3

archaic : lechery, lust

luxury adjective

Synonyms of luxury

• amenity
• indulgence
• comfort

Examples of luxury in a Sentence

He spent a fortune on expensive wines and other luxuries.

Right now a new car is a luxury that I can't afford.

On my salary, I can afford few luxuries.

We were lucky to have the luxury of choosing from among several good options.

We can't afford the luxury of waiting any longer.

Recent Examples on the Web

Virgo season starts on August 22, which means the end of the month will be focused more on a sort-of quiet luxury approach to life rather than being loud and in the spotlight. — Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 Aug. 2026

Engle then diverted the money to personal purchases, including a yacht, vehicles, jewelry, and other luxury items, authorities said. — Doug Myers, CBS News, 1 Aug. 2026

If your Mediterranean travel dreams mean hopping between postcard-perfect ports aboard a private yacht—without sacrificing luxury hotel comforts—Emerald Sakara just may be your answer. — Stephanie Orma, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026

Pinterest calls it scent stacking — and Aventura Mall is all in on the youthful luxury retail trend. — Howard Cohen july 31, Miami Herald, 31 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English luxurie, from Anglo-French luxorie, from Latin luxuria rankness, luxury, excess; akin to Latin luxus luxury, excess

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Phrases Containing luxury

• in the lap of luxury
• luxury box
• the lap of luxury

Kids Definition

luxury

noun

lux·​u·​ry ˈləksh-(ə-)rē  ˈləgzh- 

plural luxuries

1

a

: free use or possession of costly food, dress, or anything that pleases a person

b

: great ease or comfort : rich surroundings

live in luxury

2

a

: something desirable but costly or hard to get

b

: something adding to pleasure or comfort but not absolutely necessary

luxury adjective