extravagance
noun
ex·trav·a·gance
ik-ˈstra-vi-gən(t)s 
1
a
: an instance of excess or prodigality
specifically
: an excessive outlay of money
b
: something extravagant
a new car is an extravagance we can't afford
2
: the quality or fact of being extravagant
the extravagance of the decorations
Examples of extravagance in a Sentence
The reorganization of the department was aimed at reducing extravagance.
That coat is an extravagance that you can't afford.
Going to the play will be our one extravagance for this vacation.
I was shocked by the extravagance of their lifestyle.
The church is known for the extravagance of its architecture.
Recent Examples on the Web
Nothing in his filmography suggests the sort of comprehensive extravagance that this film delivers from start to finish.
—
Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 14 Feb. 2025
There are grand old-fashioned song and dance spectacles but also solo numbers that do fine without any extravagance.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 6 Feb. 2025
But some people criticized the lavish affair — which included a gold carriage procession and a display of the monarchy’s jewels — as an insensitive extravagance while millions across the country were struggling financially.
—Anna Cooban, CNN, 22 Nov. 2024
Within the hour, our kitchen counters had vanished beneath an extravagance of desserts: airy strawberry cream cake, chocolate cake with mortar-thick icing, sticky sweet tres leches, a wedge of cheesecake, a wedge of Key lime pie, tiramisu and on and on.
—Caity Weaver, New York Times, 25 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for extravagance
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Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 14 Feb. 2025
There are grand old-fashioned song and dance spectacles but also solo numbers that do fine without any extravagance.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 6 Feb. 2025
But some people criticized the lavish affair — which included a gold carriage procession and a display of the monarchy’s jewels — as an insensitive extravagance while millions across the country were struggling financially.
—Anna Cooban, CNN, 22 Nov. 2024
Within the hour, our kitchen counters had vanished beneath an extravagance of desserts: airy strawberry cream cake, chocolate cake with mortar-thick icing, sticky sweet tres leches, a wedge of cheesecake, a wedge of Key lime pie, tiramisu and on and on.
—Caity Weaver, New York Times, 25 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for extravagance
Cite this Entry
“Extravagance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/extravagance. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
extravagance
noun
ex·trav·a·gance
ik-ˈstrav-i-gən(t)s
1
a
: the wasteful or careless spending of money
b
: something that is extravagant
2
: the quality or fact of being extravagant
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