price gouging

American  

[prahys gou-jing] / ˈpraɪs ˌgaʊ dʒɪŋ /

noun

1. an act or instance of charging customers too high a price for goods or services, especially when demand is high and supplies are limited.

   The law prohibits price gouging during weather emergencies such as snowstorms.

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Other Word Forms

• price gouge
  verb (used with or without object)
• price gouger
  noun
• price-gouge
  verb (used with or without object)

Etymology

Origin of price gouging

First recorded in 1915–20

Example Sentences

The Los Angeles city attorney’s office has filed a lawsuit against Airbnb, accusing the home-sharing platform of allowing price gouging at more than 2,000 rentals following the January firestorm.

From Los Angeles Times • May 23, 2026

Supporters’ groups had accused organizers of price gouging on transit to the New York New Jersey stadium, which lies 35 miles from the city.

From Barron's • May 7, 2026

"The price gouging we are seeing is totally unacceptable," said Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves.

From BBC • Mar. 12, 2026

And industry observers are already directing public scrutiny toward competitors like StubHub, also notorious for alleged price gouging.

From Slate • Mar. 10, 2026

When he heard the story, Hiatt said, “Looks like price gouging to me.”

From "Mountains Beyond Mountains" by Tracy Kidder and Michael French