Word
exorbitant
Phoneticsex·or·bi·tant
US/ɪɡˈzɔɹbɪtənt/
UK/ɛɡzˈɔːbɪtənt/
Definition
adj. describing a price or amount of money that is much too high and unfair. You use it when something costs far more than it should.
adj. exceeding the bounds of custom, propriety, or reason, especially regarding price or cost. Often used predicatively after 'be' or 'seem' to criticise a financial demand.
Examples
“The hotel charged an exorbitant price for a bottle of water.”
“Many residents were forced to move out of the city center because of the exorbitant rent increases.”
“While the technology was undeniably groundbreaking, the exorbitant licensing fees prevented smaller firms from adopting it, effectively stifling competition within the industry for several years.”
Examples
simple
“The hotel charged an exorbitant price for a bottle of water.”
contextual
“Many residents were forced to move out of the city center because of the exorbitant rent increases.”
complex
“While the technology was undeniably groundbreaking, the exorbitant licensing fees prevented smaller firms from adopting it, effectively stifling competition within the industry for several years.”
Usage
Typically modifies nouns related to money, such as 'price', 'fee', 'rent', or 'cost'.
Real-World Examples
“US President Donald Trump wants to put a stop to the exorbitant prices of medications in the US and bring prices more in line with other developed Western nations.” “A titular sunrise, a summer fling fantasy, exorbitant wealth, impossibly sculpted bodies: such are the profitable story ingredients that make up The Last Sunrise, the latest offering in Amazon’s endless catalogue of “romance content”.” Etymology
From Middle English exorbitant, through Old French from Late Latin exorbitāns, present active participle of exorbitō (“to go out of the track”), from ex (“out”) + orbita (“wheel-track”); see orbit. Compare French exorbitant.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/exorbitant