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

Investigators are also searching for two luxury vehicles — a BMW and a Mercedes — that fled the scene. —Mark Prussin, CBS News, 17 Nov. 2025

Not only a testament to fine craftsmanship, the Roman diatreta also, thanks to Meredith’s astute observation, now reflects the social network behind the item of luxury, according to Archaeology News. —Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 16 Nov. 2025

China was on track to become the world’s largest luxury market during the coronavirus pandemic, but the sector has slowed sharply since then. —Spriha Srivastava,charlotte Reed, CNBC, 16 Nov. 2025

New car prices have soared to above $50,000 on average, pushing a basic purchase into luxury-level territory for many middle-income families. —Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Nov. 2025

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