Is expensive formal or informal?

It is neutral. You can use it in speaking, writing, business, and exams.

What is the difference between expensive and costly?

Expensive usually means high in price. Costly can also mean serious loss, damage, or trouble.

Can I say very expensive?

Yes. It is common and natural when the price is much higher than expected.

What is the opposite of expensive?

Affordable, cheap, and inexpensive are common opposites, depending on the tone you want.

← Dictionary

expensive

/ɪkˈspen.sɪv/

IELTSAcademic

adjective

If something is expensive, it costs a lot of money. People also use it for things that are hard or costly to do.

This phone is too expensive for me.
Living in the city is expensive.
A good education can be expensive.

Adinary Nuance

Expensive is the neutral everyday word for a high price. Costly is similar, but it often sounds more formal and can mean “causing loss or trouble” too. Pricey is more casual and sometimes slightly playful. In writing, expensive is the safest choice when you simply mean “not cheap.”

In other languages

Vietnamese: đắt
Spanish: caro
Chinese: 昂贵
Japanese: 高い
Korean: 비싼

Etymology

Expensive came into English from French in the 1500s. It comes from Latin expendere, meaning “to pay out” or “weigh out.”

Common phrases

expensive tastean expensive mistakeexpensive to runtoo expensive

Synonyms

pricey costly dear

Related words

price cost affordable budget

Frequently asked questions

Is expensive formal or informal?: It is neutral. You can use it in speaking, writing, business, and exams.
What is the difference between expensive and costly?: Expensive usually means high in price. Costly can also mean serious loss, damage, or trouble.
Can I say very expensive?: Yes. It is common and natural when the price is much higher than expected.
What is the opposite of expensive?: Affordable, cheap, and inexpensive are common opposites, depending on the tone you want.