luxurious
lug-ZHOOR-ee-us
/lʌɡˈʒʊəriəs/
Extremely comfortable, elegant, or enjoyable, especially in a way that involves great expense.
Emphasizes comfort, elegance, and high quality that comes with a high price tag. It's about indulgence and superior experience.
The story behind the word. The word 'luxurious' comes from the Latin word 'luxuria,' which originally meant 'excess' or 'extravagance.' It wasn't always a positive word! In ancient times, 'luxuria' could even refer to debauchery. Over centuries, its meaning softened in English, evolving to describe something that provides great comfort and elegance, often at a high cost, losing most of its negative connotations and focusing instead on the indulgence and pleasure of high-quality goods and experiences.
Word relationships
- opulent: Often implies a grander, more showy display of wealth, while 'luxurious' focuses on comfort and elegance.
- sumptuous: Emphasizes richness and costliness, often for things like food or decor, similar to 'luxurious' but with more focus on appearance.
- lavish: Can describe spending or gifts, implying generosity or extravagance, similar to 'luxurious' in scale.
- extravagant: Often implies excessive or wasteful spending, which 'luxurious' does not necessarily imply, though it is expensive.
- basic: Forming an essential foundation or starting point; fundamental.
- spartan: Showing indifference to comfort or luxury.
- modest: Relatively small in amount, extent, or size; unassuming.
Commonly confused with
- expensive: While 'luxurious' items are always expensive, 'expensive' simply means high-priced, without necessarily implying comfort, elegance, or indulgence.
Word family
- luxury (noun): The state of great comfort and extravagant living.
- luxuriate (verb): To enjoy oneself in a luxurious way; to take great pleasure.
Collocations
- luxurious lifestyle
- luxurious hotel
- luxurious car
- luxurious fabrics
- luxurious amenities
Example sentences
- "They booked a luxurious suite with a panoramic view of the city skyline." Travel accommodations
- "The car's interior was designed with luxurious leather seating and advanced entertainment systems." Product description
- "After a long week, a luxurious spa day was exactly what she needed." Experience description
Memory hook
A 'LUXURIOUS' item offers 'LUX' (light/shine) and makes you feel 'GLORIOUS'. LUX GLORIOUS
When not to use
Avoid 'luxurious' for things that are merely comfortable or nice but not particularly expensive or opulent. It implies a high level of expense and indulgence.
Fun facts
- The word 'lust' also shares the same Latin root 'luxuria' in its older sense of 'excessive desire'.
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