luxury
gb/lˈʌɡʒɚi/ us/lˈʌɡʒɚi/
B1
English
~ 2900
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B1
state
1
State of great comfort and expense
A way of living that has a lot of comfort and costs a lot of money.
Usage pattern:
to live in [luxury]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'luxury' with 'luck'. They are unrelated; 'luxury' refers to comfort and expense, not chance.
Synonyms
opulence (More formal and emphasizes grand display of wealth.)
|
extravagance (Suggests spending more than necessary, sometimes wastefully.)
Antonyms
poverty (The state of having little or no money or possessions.)
|
necessity (Something essential rather than optional or indulgent.)
Collocations
live in luxury
|luxury lifestyle
|luxury goods
|luxury travel
|luxury hotel
Themes
lifestyle
|wealth
|consumption
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- They spent their honeymoon in luxury at a five-star resort.
- After years of hard work, she could finally afford the luxury of a private villa.
- The yacht was the ultimate symbol of luxury.
- He enjoys the luxury of having a personal driver.
- For many, owning a home in that neighborhood is a luxury.
Learner examples
- They live in luxury by the beach.
- This hotel is full of luxury.
- He likes the luxury of soft beds.
- She dreams of a life of luxury.
- A big car is a luxury for him.
Noun
B1
entity
2
Something nice but unnecessary
Something nice to have but not needed.
Usage pattern:
[something] is a luxury
Common mistake:
Some learners think 'luxury' always means 'expensive', but it can also mean simply 'not necessary'.
Synonyms
treat (Informal; something enjoyed occasionally as a special pleasure.)
Antonyms
necessity (Something that is essential for life or functioning.)
Collocations
small luxury
|rare luxury
|simple luxury
Themes
daily life
|consumption
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- For busy parents, a quiet evening alone is a rare luxury.
- In this remote village, fresh fruit is a luxury.
- Having time to read is a luxury these days.
- Hot showers were once considered a luxury here.
- For him, sleeping late is the greatest luxury.
Learner examples
- Ice cream is a luxury for me.
- A holiday is a big luxury.
- Good shoes are a luxury in this town.
- Time to rest is a luxury for her.
- Fresh water is a luxury in the desert.
Grammar
Dictionary form
luxury
IPA
GB/lˈʌɡʒɚi/
US/lˈʌɡʒɚi/
Syllables & stress
lux - ury (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (lux)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: luxury
- Plural: luxuries, luxury
Word family
Expressions
a life of luxury
1/ə lˈaɪf əv lˈʌɡʒɚi/
fixed phrase
Life with great comfort and wealth
A way of living with a lot of money, comfort, and nice things.
Examples
- He retired early and now enjoys a life of luxury.
- They dreamed of a life of luxury on a tropical island.
small luxuries
1/smˈɔl lˈʌɡʒɚiz/
fixed phrase
Minor nice but nonessential things
Little nice things you do not need but enjoy.
Examples
- She allows herself small luxuries like fresh flowers.
- Even during hard times, they kept some small luxuries.
the lap of luxury
1/ðə lˈæp əv lˈʌɡʒɚi/
idiom
In great comfort and wealth
Living in very comfortable and rich conditions.
Examples
- After winning the lottery, they lived in the lap of luxury.
- The hotel made us feel like we were in the lap of luxury.