sump·tu·ary | \ ˈsəm(p)-chə-ˌwer-ē 
\
\Definition of sumptuary
1 : relating to personal expenditures and especially to prevent extravagance and luxury
conservative sumptuary tastes— John Cheever
2 : designed to regulate extravagant expenditures or habits especially on moral or religious grounds
sumptuary laws sumptuary tax
Examples of sumptuary in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web After sumptuary laws finally succeeded in suppressing consumer spending, that trend reversed.
—
Gwynn Guilford, Quartz, "What interest rates dating back to 1311 tell us about today’s global economy," 19 Jan. 2020 The rise of modern capitalism ultimately made sumptuary laws obsolete.
—
Amanda Foreman, WSJ, "Unenforceable Laws Against Pleasure," 24 Jan. 2019 Louis XIV, for example, famously wore scarlet heels and enacted sumptuary laws preventing those not in royal favor from following suit.
—
Laird Borrelli-persson, Vogue, "Your Foolproof Recipe for Holiday-Dressing Success? Red Velvet," 23 Nov. 2018 To my mind, dress codes and sumptuary laws are free-speech issues; dress speaks louder—and with more honesty—than words.
—
Kimberly Chrisman-campbell, The Atlantic, "Confessions of a Costume Curator," 18 Aug. 2017
See MoreThese example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'sumptuary.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Keep scrolling for more
Comments on sumptuary
What made you want to look up sumptuary? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Test Your Vocabulary
Slippery Words Quiz—Changing with the Times
- What is an earlier meaning of nice?
Test your visual vocabulary with our 10-question challenge!
TAKE THE QUIZ
Spell words. Make bears.
TAKE THE QUIZLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridgedWords at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games
Share sumptuary
Time Traveler for sumptuary
The first known use of sumptuary was in 1600
See more words from the same year