extravagance
The lack of restraint in spending money or using resources; something that costs a lot of money but is not necessary.
Can refer to the act of being extravagant (excessive spending) or to an item or action that is extravagant. It often carries a connotation of being beyond what is reasonable or necessary.
Word relationships
- prodigality: Wasteful extravagance, especially in spending money.
- profligacy: Reckless extravagance or wastefulness in the use of resources, often with moral connotations.
- luxury: A state of great comfort and elaborate living, but doesn't necessarily imply excess or waste.
- frugality: The quality of being economical with money or food; thriftiness.
- thrift: The quality of using money and other resources carefully and not wastefully.
- economy: Careful management of available resources.
Commonly confused with
- luxury: 'Luxury' refers to something desirable but not essential; 'extravagance' emphasizes the excessive or unnecessary nature of the spending or item.
Word family
- extravagant (adjective): Lacking restraint in spending money or using resources; costing too much.
- extravagantly (adverb): In an extravagant manner.
Collocations
- sheer extravagance
- unnecessary extravagance
- act of extravagance
- financial extravagance
Example sentences
- "The royal family's extravagance was often criticized during times of economic hardship for the common people." Critiquing excessive spending.
- "Buying a private jet was an extravagance that few could afford, let alone justify." Describing a luxurious item.
Memory hook
An 'EXTRA-VAGRANT' (wanderer) might show 'EXTRAVAGANCE' if they suddenly found money. Wander beyond limits
When not to use
Do not use 'extravagance' for careful, planned, or necessary expenses, even if they are large. It specifically implies excess or unnecessary cost.
Fun facts
- The root 'vagari' also gives us words like 'vagrant' (a wanderer) and 'vague' (wandering in meaning).
Related words
Explore more words
extravagant, opulent, parsimonious, overconsumption, squander, abundance
Also appears in
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