big-ticket

adjective

big-tick·​et ˈbig-ˈti-kət 

1

: having a high price

the car was a big-ticket item

2

: having great importance or prominence : major

The founders had hoped to address three big-ticket issues: the environment, nuclear weapons, and Middle East peace.

—David Corn

Synonyms

• costly
• dear
• expensive
• extravagant
• high
• high-end
• high-ticket
• precious
• premium
• priceless
• pricey
• pricy
• spendy [chiefly Northwest]
• ultraexpensive
• valuable

Examples of big-ticket in a Sentence

with the tough economy, fewer people are likely to be making big-ticket purchases

Recent Examples on the Web

Big Slick veterans also have come to expect big-ticket auction items to bid on, and Big Slick organizers have definitely upped the ante this year. —Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 29 May 2024

With a runoff date so long after the primary and no big-ticket races on the ballot, turnout is likely to be low. —Caroline Linton, CBS News, 28 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1933, in the meaning defined at sense 1