Meaning & use
luxury item
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Meanings
nouncountable
An expensive thing that is pleasant to have but not necessary.
Grammar: Countable: you can say 'a luxury item' or 'luxury items'. Often used in the plural.
Patterns
- a luxury item
- luxury items
During the recession, many people stopped buying luxury items.
The store sells luxury items like watches and handbags.
nouncountable
Something that is not essential but makes life more comfortable or enjoyable.
Grammar: Often used to contrast with basic necessities.
Patterns
- a luxury item
- luxury items
For them, a car was a luxury item, not a necessity.
In some countries, clean water is a luxury item.
Word forms
| plural | luxury items |
|---|
Common combinations
- buy luxury items
- Tourists come here to buy luxury items like silk and gold.
- afford luxury items
- After the pay cut, they could no longer afford luxury items.
- high-end luxury item
- That watch is a high-end luxury item.
Synonyms and how they differ
- luxury good
- Used more in economics and business; it means the same but sounds more technical.
- extravagance
- Suggests something wasteful or overly expensive; 'luxury item' is more neutral.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: luxury item or luxuriant?
luxury item vs luxuriant
Means growing thickly and healthily, used for plants or hair, not for expensive goods.
Practice
During the economic crisis, many families stopped buying ______.
Choose one answer.
The plural 'luxury items' is needed because it refers to more than one thing. 'Luxury item' is singular and would need 'a'; 'luxurious items' is grammatical but changes the meaning to 'items that are luxurious' rather than 'items of luxury'; 'luxuriant items' is not used for products.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “luxury item”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.