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

Osaka is seeing a spate of new luxury hotels, so the pressure on this one to stand out was intense. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Feb. 2026

Lucy brought luxury to the island in the form of estates, family mansions, and a power plant. —Kelsey Glennon, Southern Living, 21 Feb. 2026

During this period, which is sometimes referred to as the Black Friday for cruise deals, many companies—from budget cruise lines to luxury ships—offer some of the most competitive prices of the year. —Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 21 Feb. 2026

Cayo Levantado Resort Samaná, Dominican Republic Head to this luxury all-inclusive resort on a private island off the coast of Samaná, Dominican Republic, to take a break from everyday life (and your phone habit). —Beth Luberecki, USA Today, 21 Feb. 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