extortionate

[ik-stawr-shuh-nit]

adjective

1. grossly excessive; exorbitant.

   extortionate prices.

2. characterized by extortion, as persons.

   extortionate moneylenders.

extortionate

/ ɪkˈstɔːʃənɪt /

adjective

1. (of prices, etc) excessive; exorbitant

2. (of persons) using extortion

Other Word Forms

• extortionately adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of extortionate¹

First recorded in 1780–90; extortion + -ate ¹

Example Sentences

Carl Walker, chair of the Jersey Consumer Council, said: "It could cost up to £400 per child to prepare them for school – not just uniforms, but stationery, lunch boxes, haircuts, coats, everything. It's absolutely extortionate."

From BBC

"Nine times out of 10 I will get a second-hand uniform because new it is just extortionate."

From BBC

"I don't understand how it's so extortionate here when other countries in Europe subsidise it so well," she says.

From BBC

The cost of school uniform and PE kits is "extortionate" and "ridiculous", according to parents in Hull.

From BBC

He says: "It's a bit extortionate, £1 per minute is a bit of a joke."

From BBC

When To Use

What does extortionate mean?

Extortionate means extremely excessive, especially in reference to prices. A close synonym is exorbitant.Extortionate can also be used to describe things involving extortion—the act of using violence, threats, intimidation, or pressure from one’s authority to force someone to hand over money (or something else of value) or do something they don’t want to do.Extortion and the verb extort are commonly used in this literal sense, but they can also be used in a few more general or figurative ways. Extortion can refer to the practice of overcharging someone for something or to obtaining something through relentless and unreasonable demands. These senses liken such actions to the actual crime of extortion.When used to refer to extortion, extortionate is most often applied to people or organizations that use such practices. The similar adjective extortionary is used to describe practices that involve or resemble extortion or people or organizations that engage in extortion.Example: These are the same extortionate lenders who cheated people out of their life savings and wrecked the economy in the process.