Exorbitant Meaning: Definition and Examples

Meaning 1：extremely high (exorbitant)

exorbitant 🔊

/ɪɡˈzɔːrbɪtənt/

adj.

It means a price or cost is way too high, not just expensive but shockingly and unreasonably so.

Exorbitant price tag on a coffee cup showing shockingly high cost

extremely high 🔊

➕

/ɪkˈstriːmli haɪ/

adj.

Describes a price, fee, or cost that is far beyond what is reasonable or usual; shockingly expensive.

📁 Category：Social Economy 🔖 Level：intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Latin 'ex-' (out of) + 'orbita' (track, orbit), meaning 'deviating from the normal track or orbit'; hence 'excessive'.

💡 Mnemonic

Imagine a price tag that has 'orbited' out of control, shooting past the moon. Ex-orbit-ant: way off the normal orbit!

📖 Example

The price for a small bottle of water was exorbitant at the tourist spot, almost ten times more than in the local supermarket. 🔊 The price for a small bottle of water was exorbitant at the tourist spot, almost ten times more than in the local supermarket.

🔗 Collocations

exorbitant price – a price that is extremely high and unreasonable

exorbitant fee – a fee that is far above the normal or fair amount

exorbitant rent – rent that is excessively high relative to the value of the property

🔄 Synonyms

outrageous (adj.) – shockingly bad or excessive

extortionate (adj.) – used especially of prices or fees that are unreasonably high

excessive (adj.) – more than is necessary, normal, or desirable

🚫 Antonyms

reasonable (adj.) – fair and sensible; not too high

moderate (adj.) – average in amount, intensity, or degree

cheap (adj.) – low in price; costing little

🌱 Derivatives

exorbitantly (adv.) – in a manner that is excessively high

exorbitance (n.) – the quality of being exorbitant

📖 Cultural Story

In ancient Rome, 'orbita' referred to the wheel rut in a road. 'Exorbitant' literally meant 'off the track', used figuratively since the 15th century to describe costs or demands that have left the proper course.