extravagance

[ ik-strav-uh-guhns ]

noun

1. excessive or unnecessary expenditure or outlay of money.

   Antonyms: frugality

2. an instance of this:

   That sports car is an inexcusable extravagance.

3. unrestrained or fantastic excess, as of actions or opinions.

   Synonyms: lavishness, profusion

4. an extravagant action, notion, etc.:

   the extravagances one commits in moments of stress.

extravagance

/ ɪkˈstrævəɡəns /

noun

1. excessive outlay of money; wasteful spending
2. immoderate or absurd speech or behaviour

Word History and Origins

Origin of extravagance¹

1635–45; < French, Middle French; extravagant, -ance

Example Sentences

Theoretically, that prospect should deter Hezbollah’s extravagance—but, in real life, will it?

From Slate

A Silicon Valley school district announced this week that it was pausing a contract worth tens of thousands of dollars with an “energy healer” who was providing meditation sessions for administrators after parents protested over what they saw as a budgetary extravagance.

From Los Angeles Times

Delyth said she sat down with Beca every week to look over her budget and finances and the only "extravagance" her daughter ever included was having her hair and nails done.

From BBC

The row comes amid concerns by critics that taxpayers' money has been used to fund extravagance in government while taxes have been raised on the basis that the state needs extra funding.

From BBC

It thrives on the rowdy spectacle of real divorcing couples fighting over the same red-meat sins of at-fault divorce — adultery, extravagance, neglect, anger, all with vulgar language and shouting that no real courtroom would tolerate.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• absurdity
• exaggeration
• excess
• luxury
• squandering