Extravagance is the quality of being extremely elaborate or wasteful in spending or behavior. It denotes grand, showy excess that goes beyond what is necessary or prudent, often tied to luxury or ostentation rather than frugality or restraint. In usage, it can refer to both extravagant displays and excessive consumption.
"Her wedding was a display of sheer extravagance, with opulent decor and an enormous guest list."
"Critics argued that the project reflected cultural extravagance rather than practical public value."
"The budget was blown on extravagant outfits, cocktails, and private entertainment—an obvious extravagance."
"Investigators warned that corporate bonuses and extravagant perks suggested misallocation of company resources."
Extravagance comes from the Latin extravagantia, formed from extra- ‘outside, beyond’ + vagare ‘to wander, roam about’ or extravagare ‘to wander beyond bounds.’ The root extra- (outside) plus vagāri (to roam) evolved in Late Latin to mean “going beyond the usual bounds.” The word entered English through Old French extravagance and Middle English adoption, with earliest uses centered on ostentatious display and unrestrained spending. In the 16th–17th centuries, extravagance carried strong moral overtones, often condemning excess as wasteful or wastefully luxurious. Over time, the sense broadened to include not just expenditure but any excessive or showy display—colorful fashion, architecture, or behavior. The term maintained a nuanced edge: it can be neutral (someone’s extravagant taste) or pejorative (an extravagant waste of resources), depending on context. Today, extravagance frequently collocates with luxury, spectacle, consumer culture, and artistic ambition, while still retaining its root idea of crossing sensible bounds and surpassing what is necessary. The first known English usage dates to the early modern period, aligning with the rise of lavish court societies and mercantile capitalism that celebrated abundance and display.
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Words that rhyme with "Extravagance"
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Pronounce as /ˌek.strəˈvædʒ.əns/ in US, /ˌek.strəˈvædʒ.əns/ in UK, and /ˌek.strəˈvædʒən(t)s/ in AU with similar rhoticity. The primary stress falls on the second syllable of the root since the word is four syllables: ex-TRAV-a-gance, with the main emphasis on the /vædʒ/ segment. Start with /ˌek/ (ehk) then /strə/ (struh), then /ˈvædʒ/ (vadj) and finish with /əns/ (uhns). Think: “ek-struh-VADJ-uhns.” Listen for the /æ/ in the stressed syllable and the voiced “j” as a soft dʒ sound.
Common mistakes include misplacing stress as ex-TRAV-a-gance with the emphasis on the first or last syllable, mispronouncing /vædʒ/ as /vej/ or /vadʒ/ with a hard “g” instead of the soft /dʒ/; and dropping the final /n(t)s/ cluster, saying /-ns/ or /-nts/. Correction tips: place primary stress on the third syllable in natural speech (ex-struh-VADJ-uhns), ensure the /dʒ/ is a soft, voiced palato-alveolar affricate, and articulate the ending as /-əns/ or /-ənts/ with a light /t/ before the /s/ in rapid speech to avoid a clipped ending.
In US and UK, the core is /ˌek.strəˈvædʒ.əns/ with a clear /æ/ in the stressed syllable; rhoticity affects vowel coloration after r, though here /strə/ is unaffected by rhotic r. Australian English keeps the same stress but can exhibit a slightly broader /æ/ and a more open /ɑ/ in the final syllable; some speakers may aspirate or soften the /t/ in difficult clusters. Overall, the main cues are the /ˈvædʒ/ syllable and the final /əns/.
Difficulties arise from the multi-syllabic structure with three consonant clusters in a row: /ˈstr/ in the second syllable, the /dʒ/ sound in /vædʒ/, and the final /əns/ cluster. The /æ/ vowel in stressed syllable can vary by speaker; several languages lack the /dʒ/ sound. Practice tip: isolate /str/ and /vædʒ/ segments, use a slow pace to ensure the affricate remains voiced, and rehearse final /əns/ with a light, quick /t/ release before /s/.
A common unique query is whether the word retains a silent letter or if the final /e/ is pronounced. In Extravagance, there is no silent letter; the final -ance is pronounced as /əns/ or /ənts/ depending on surrounding phonotactics. The main point is the three-syllable rhythm and the stress on the third syllable; ensure the /æ/ is pronounced clearly, and the /dʒ/ is voiced. This distinguishes it from similar forms like extravagance vs extravagant.
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