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

The detainees describe a camp where an average of about 3,000 people have lived per day in loud and unsanitary quarters, diseases spread easily and sleep is a luxury. —Morgan Lee, Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2026

The hotel's opening is part of the master plan for Takanawa Gateway City, which also includes offices and luxury residences, in addition to dining, cultural, community, and retail spaces, such as Newoman, a shopping mall next door. —Lois Alter Mark, Travel + Leisure, 8 Mar. 2026

Thanks to its woven look, the purse is reminiscent of far-pricier luxury styles on the market. —Kyra Surgent, InStyle, 8 Mar. 2026

Because of this proliferation of both luxury and boutique hotels, NoMad has a robust dining and nightlife scene. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Mar. 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