: costing a lot of money
an expensive hobby
an expensive car
expensive clothes
The lights were expensive to install.
They live in an expensive neighborhood. [=a neighborhood in which houses, apartments, etc., cost a lot to buy or rent]
Her decision to leave the company proved to be an expensive mistake. [=a mistake that caused her to lose a lot of money]
an expensive shop [=a shop that sells expensive things]
He has expensive tastes. [=he likes expensive things]
Cite this Entry
“Expensive.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/expensive. Accessed 14 Apr. 2026.
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