luxury

noun

lux·​u·​ry ˈlək-sh(ə-)rē  -zh(ə-)rē 

plural luxuries

1

: a condition of abundance or great ease and comfort : sumptuous environment

lived in luxury

2

a

: something adding to pleasure or comfort but not absolutely necessary

one of life's luxuries

b

: an indulgence in something that provides pleasure, satisfaction, or ease

had the luxury of rejecting a handful of job offers

—Terri Minsky

3

archaic : lechery, lust

luxury adjective

Synonyms

• amenity
• comfort
• extra
• frill
• indulgence
• superfluity

Examples of luxury in a Sentence

He spent a fortune on expensive wines and other luxuries.

Right now a new car is a luxury that I can't afford.

On my salary, I can afford few luxuries.

We were lucky to have the luxury of choosing from among several good options.

We can't afford the luxury of waiting any longer.

Recent Examples on the Web

Most seasons of The White Lotus have glimpsed a yacht of some kind, but the third season sees the cast spend a day and a night on board an 177-foot luxury catamaran around Ya Nui Beach in Phuket and the Mu Ko Ang Thong National Marine Park in Koh Samui. —Katia Damborsky, Forbes.com, 26 Mar. 2025

Available in Seaside Market, luxury suites and other locations. —Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Mar. 2025

The luxury skiwear brand Perfect Moment has collaborated with the Alpine F1 Team, which races under the name of BWT Alpine F1 Team, on a capsule collection of technical outerwear and lifestyle pieces. —Hikmat Mohammed, WWD, 26 Mar. 2025

The luxury cruise liner, operated by Cunard, was sailing through the Sulu-Celebes Sea during en route from Darwin in Australia, to the Philippine capital, Manila. —Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English luxurie, from Anglo-French luxorie, from Latin luxuria rankness, luxury, excess; akin to Latin luxus luxury, excess

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Phrases Containing luxury

• in the lap of luxury
• luxury box
• the lap of luxury

Kids Definition

luxury

noun

lux·​u·​ry ˈləksh-(ə-)rē  ˈləgzh- 

plural luxuries

1

a

: free use or possession of costly food, dress, or anything that pleases a person

b

: great ease or comfort : rich surroundings

live in luxury

2

a

: something desirable but costly or hard to get

b

: something adding to pleasure or comfort but not absolutely necessary

luxury adjective