Word
extravagance
Phoneticsex·trav·a·gance, stress on the second syllable
US/ɛkˈstɹævəɡəns/
UK/ɛkstɹˈævəɡəns/
Uncountable noun
Definition
n. the act of spending too much money on things that are not necessary. It describes a style of living that is very expensive and often wasteful.
n. the quality of being wastefully or recklessly expensive. Often refers to a lifestyle or expenditure that exceeds what is strictly necessary or prudent.
Examples
“The family's extravagance led to serious financial problems.”
“The new CEO promised to cut back on corporate extravagance and focus on more practical spending.”
“While the palace was a marvel of architectural beauty, its sheer extravagance served as a constant reminder of the wealth gap between the royal family and the common people.”
Examples
simple
“The family's extravagance led to serious financial problems.”
contextual
“The new CEO promised to cut back on corporate extravagance and focus on more practical spending.”
complex
“While the palace was a marvel of architectural beauty, its sheer extravagance served as a constant reminder of the wealth gap between the royal family and the common people.”
Real-World Examples
“The Gilded Age captures all the glamour, extravagance and snobbery of a period now safely at a distance.” Etymology
Borrowed from French extravagance, from Medieval Latin extra + vagor (“to wander”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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