luxury

luxury — noun

1. a state of enjoying expensive things that make your life very comfortable and pl

1.nounB1
Definition

a state of enjoying expensive things that make your life very comfortable and pleasant

Example

After years of hard work, Nila finally began to enjoy a life of luxury.

collocation: a life of luxury

The hotel offered every kind of luxury, from marble bathrooms to silk sheets.

collocation: every kind of luxury

Common collocations
  • life of luxury
  • sheer luxury
  • pure luxury
  • surrounded by luxury
  • live in luxury
  • the lap of luxury
Synonyms
  • opulence

    more formal; emphasises grand, showy richness

  • affluence

    focuses on having a lot of money rather than the comfort it buys

  • extravagance

    implies spending that is excessive or wasteful

Antonyms
  • poverty

    the state of being extremely poor

  • frugality

    a lifestyle of careful, minimal spending

Grammar Patterns

uncountable noun

Usage Note

Uncountable — do not use 'a luxury' for this meaning. Often modified by 'sheer', 'pure', or 'total' (e.g., 'sheer luxury').

Common Mistakes

They live in a luxury.
They live in luxury.
sense 1 is uncountable and takes no article.
The interior was luxury.
The interior was luxurious.
use the adjective form in predicative position.

2. an item or service that costs a lot of money and gives you pleasure, but that yo

2.nounB1
Definition

an item or service that costs a lot of money and gives you pleasure, but that you can live without

Example

A sports car is a luxury that most people can only dream about owning.

pattern: a luxury + relative clause

Bilal decided to spend his bonus on a small luxury, such as a designer watch.

collocation: a small luxury

Common collocations
  • afford a luxury
  • buy luxuries
  • a small luxury
  • a little luxury
  • spend on luxuries
Synonyms
  • indulgence

    emphasises satisfying a desire rather than the cost

  • treat

    less formal; suggests a small, occasional reward

  • splurge

    informal; emphasises a sudden, generous spending on something

Antonyms
  • necessity

    something you must have to live or work

  • essential

    something that is absolutely necessary

Grammar Patterns

countable noun — a luxury / luxuries

Usage Note

Countable — 'a luxury' (singular) and 'luxuries' (plural). Often contrasted with 'necessity', 'essential', or 'basic need'.

Common Mistakes

Chocolate is my only luxury I cannot live without.
Chocolate is my only luxury, though I know I can live without it.
if you cannot live without it, it is not a luxury.
This car is a luxury, not a necessity.
This car is a luxury, but it is not a necessity.
the contrast must show they differ.

3. a benefit or pleasant experience that you rarely have the chance to enjoy

3.nounB2
Definition

a benefit or pleasant experience that you rarely have the chance to enjoy

Example

For a busy teacher, an afternoon with no grading to do is a real luxury.

pattern: [situation] is a real luxury

Yan lived far from the ocean, so weekends at the beach were a rare luxury.

collocation: a rare luxury

Common collocations
  • a rare luxury
  • a real luxury
  • a luxury to + verb
  • afford the luxury of + noun/gerund
Synonyms
  • privilege

    focuses on being lucky to have the opportunity

  • treat

    less formal; something that feels special when it happens

  • bonus

    informal; an unexpected extra advantage

Antonyms
  • hardship

    difficult or unpleasant conditions

  • chore

    a routine task that is boring or tiring

Grammar Patterns

a luxury to [verb]

countable noun — a luxury

Usage Note

Often appears in the pattern 'It is a luxury to [verb]' (e.g., 'It is a luxury to sleep late'). Distinguished from sense 2: the focus here is on time, opportunity, or convenience, not monetary cost.

Common Mistakes

A diamond ring is a luxury I rarely have.
A diamond ring is a luxury I cannot afford.
sense 3 is for time/opportunity pleasures, not expensive items (use sense 2).
It is a luxury to have breakfast every morning.
It is a luxury to have a quiet breakfast without rushing.
the pleasure must come from something you cannot normally do, not from a routine activity.
Idioms

in the lap of luxury

idiom

Living in a very comfortable and expensive way, with everything you need or want.

Maya grew up in the lap of luxury in a big house.

After winning the lottery, Diego lived in the lap of luxury.

luxury — adjective

Word family

  • luxurious
    adjectiveB1
  • luxuriously
    adverbB2
  • luxuriance
    nounC1
  • luxuriant
    adjectiveC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/2

Luxury, indulgence, treat, and splurge all refer to something desirable beyond basic needs, but they differ in emphasis. Luxury stresses high cost and premium quality — a luxury is typically an expensive item such as a designer handbag or a sports car. Indulgence highlights giving in to a desire, whether or not the item costs much; a rich chocolate dessert can be an indulgence. Treat is more informal and suggests a small, occasional reward you give yourself. Splurge is informal and emphasises a sudden, generous spending on something you would not normally buy. For example, a fine watch is a luxury; a hot bath with scented candles is an indulgence; a coffee and cake after work could be a treat; a weekend shopping trip with no budget might be a splurge.

indulgence ↗treat ↗splurge ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

Prepositions

  • in luxury
  • of luxury

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchEnglish

Luxury entered English through Old French 'luxurie', from Latin 'luxuria' meaning 'extravagance, excess, rankness'. The original Latin carried a moral judgement — excessive self-indulgence was a vice. By the 17th century, the word had softened into the modern sense of elegant, expensive comfort without the sinful overtones.