opportunity cost
noun
: the added cost of using resources (as for production or speculative investment) that is the difference between the actual value resulting from such use and that of an alternative (such as another use of the same resources or an investment of equal risk but greater return)
Examples of opportunity cost in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Your generous heart likely loves to say yes, but everything has an opportunity cost.
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Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 5 Apr. 2026
This means that skills are valued at the opportunity cost of compute required to replicate them.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 4 Apr. 2026
Despite being a hedge against uncertainty and inflation, high rates raise the opportunity cost of holding the metal.
—Ashitha Shivaprasad, USA Today, 31 Mar. 2026
Higher-for-longer interest rates raise the opportunity cost of holding gold, which doesn’t pay income.
—John Towfighi, CNN Money, 26 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for opportunity cost
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Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 5 Apr. 2026
This means that skills are valued at the opportunity cost of compute required to replicate them.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 4 Apr. 2026
Despite being a hedge against uncertainty and inflation, high rates raise the opportunity cost of holding the metal.
—Ashitha Shivaprasad, USA Today, 31 Mar. 2026
Higher-for-longer interest rates raise the opportunity cost of holding gold, which doesn’t pay income.
—John Towfighi, CNN Money, 26 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for opportunity cost
Cite this Entry
“Opportunity cost.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/opportunity%20cost. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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