exorbitant

[ig-zawr-bi-tuhnt]

adjective

1. exceeding the bounds of custom, propriety, or reason, especially in amount or extent; highly excessive.

   to charge an exorbitant price; exorbitant luxury.

2. Archaic.,  outside the authority of the law.

exorbitant

/ ɪɡˈzɔːbɪtənt /

adjective

1. (of prices, demands, etc) in excess of what is reasonable; excessive; extravagant; immoderate

Other Word Forms

• exorbitantly adverb
• exorbitance noun
• unexorbitant adjective
• unexorbitantly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of exorbitant¹

1425–75; late Middle English < Late Latin exorbitant- (stem of exorbitāns, present participle of exorbitāre to go out of the track), equivalent to ex- ex- ¹ + orbit ( a ) wheel track ( orbit ) + -ant- -ant

Word History and Origins

Origin of exorbitant¹

C15: from Late Latin exorbitāre to deviate, from Latin orbita track

Example Sentences

Worst-case scenario, you can purchase water at the venue, though likely at exorbitant prices.

From Los Angeles Times

"Gurugram is drowning. You pay exorbitant rent to come home to this," one user said on X.

From BBC

Most were angry at exorbitant rent hikes, unregulated holiday lettings, and the endless influx of Americans and Europeans into the city's trendy neighbourhoods like Condesa, Roma and La Juárez, forcing out long-term residents.

From BBC

Together these linked outbreaks have sickened more than 4,500 people, killed at least 16, and levied exorbitant costs on hospitals, health departments, and those paying medical bills.

From Salon

Xu likened the US to a "bully", saying that it had long benefitted from free trade but was now using tariffs as a "bargaining chip" to demand "exorbitant prices" from other nations.

From BBC

Related Words

• enormous 
• inordinate 
• outrageous 
• pricey 
• steep 
• unconscionable 
• unreasonable 
• unwarranted