luxury
B1Formal and informal, with slight elevation.
Definition
Meaning
A state of great comfort, elegance, and high quality, often involving considerable expense and non-essential items.
Something desirable but expensive or unnecessary for ordinary life; a pleasure or convenience enjoyed only occasionally; the state of having abundant wealth and material goods.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Can function as both a non-count noun (referring to the general concept or state) and a count noun (referring to specific items or experiences). The meaning shifts subtly between 'something desirable but not essential' and 'something indicative of opulence and great wealth'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage and connotations are largely identical. Minor differences in phrasing, e.g., 'luxury flat' (UK) vs. 'luxury apartment' (US).
Connotations
Identical. Strongly associated with high-end goods, comfort, indulgence, and wealth.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in American English in commercial/advertising contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
have the luxury of (doing) somethingindulge in (a) luxuryconsider (something) a luxurylive in luxurybe a luxury (that) one cannot affordVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “the luxury of hindsight”
- “be a luxury one can ill afford”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Referring to high-margin, non-essential goods and services (the luxury sector, luxury retail).
Academic
Used in economics (luxury goods, price elasticity), sociology (conspicuous consumption), and cultural studies.
Everyday
Describing expensive purchases or rare treats ('A hot bath is my luxury after work').
Technical
In economics, a good for which demand increases more than proportionally as income rises.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- To luxuriate in a warm bath is a simple pleasure.
- She luxuriated in the feeling of having nothing to do.
American English
- He luxuriated in the hotel's spa all afternoon.
- They luxuriate in their newfound freedom.
adverb
British English
- The hotel is luxuriously furnished with antique pieces.
- They lived luxuriously on the proceeds.
American English
- The car is luxuriously equipped with leather seats.
- The apartment was luxuriously spacious.
adjective
British English
- They booked a luxury suite for their anniversary.
- The development includes several luxury flats.
American English
- She bought a luxury sedan with all the latest features.
- They market it as a luxury skincare brand.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The hotel room felt like a luxury.
- Chocolate is a luxury for me.
- We can't afford the luxury of a new car right now.
- They enjoyed the luxury of a private beach.
- Having a personal assistant is a luxury many entrepreneurs forgo.
- The resort offered unparalleled luxury and seclusion.
- The government argued that funding the arts was a luxury the strained budget could not justify.
- His thesis examined the commodification of luxury in post-industrial societies.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
LUXury feels like relaxing in a LUXuriously lit room.
Conceptual Metaphor
LUXURY IS A PHYSICAL SUBSTANCE ('immersed in luxury', 'filled with luxury'), LUXURY IS A LOCATION ('living in luxury', 'realm of luxury').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation of 'роскошь' in contexts where 'luxury' implies non-essential pleasure rather than dazzling opulence. 'Luxury' can be a modest personal treat, while 'роскошь' often carries a stronger connotation of grandeur or even excess.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'luxurious' (adj.) when 'luxury' (noun) is required, e.g., 'We enjoyed the luxurious of the hotel' (incorrect). Confusing 'luxury' (non-essential) with 'necessity'.
Practice
Quiz
In economic terms, a 'luxury good' is best defined as:
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not always. While often associated with high cost, its core meaning is 'something desirable but not essential'. A quiet hour to oneself can be a great luxury.
'Luxury' is primarily a noun (and can be used attributively as an adjective, e.g., 'luxury car'). 'Luxurious' is an adjective describing something that is full of luxury or very comfortable and expensive.
Yes, it can imply wasteful or irresponsible indulgence, especially in phrases like 'a luxury we cannot afford' in non-financial contexts (e.g., 'Complacency is a luxury we cannot afford').
It is followed by a noun or gerund, and means 'the advantage of having (something pleasant or useful)', e.g., 'I have the luxury of working from home' or 'They had the luxury of time to make a decision'.