French word

exorbitant

Pronunciation

IPA/ɛgzɔʁbitɑ̃/

Meaning

  • adjectiveexcessive

Example

Le prix est exorbitant.

The price is excessive.

Illustration for exorbitant (excessive)

More examples

Le montant demandé est exorbitant.

The amount requested is exorbitant.

Core concept

A price pushed far outside the normal track.

Common phrases

  • tarif exorbitant

    exorbitant rate

  • montant exorbitant

    exorbitant amount

Similar words

cher: Expensive to purchase or use.
inabordable: Beyond what most people can afford to pay.
excessif: Excessive in relation to what is needed or justified.
onéreux: Costly and burdensome to pay for.

Definition in French

Qui est excessivement élevé et dépasse ce qui est raisonnable ou habituel, surtout en parlant d'un prix, d'un coût ou d'une exigence.

Word origin

French exorbitant comes from Latin exorbitans, from ex- meaning 'out of' and orbita meaning 'track' or 'orbit', for something departing from the normal course.

Usage tips

  • Exorbitant is formal and strongly critical, while trop cher is more common in everyday speech for a high price.

Opposites

Related words

  • exorbitanceexorbitancenoun

Word lists with this word