noun · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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UK, US:/ˈlæv.ɪʃ.nɪs/
UK, US:/ˈlæv.ɪʃ.nəs/
1
noun
Meaning 1
The state or characteristic of being lavish.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: uncountable, usually
Examples
No one could question the lavishness of his parties; good taste was a different matter.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
excessive spending
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: extravagance, prodigality, highlife, high life
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: waste, wastefulness, dissipation
3
noun
Meaning 3
the quality possessed by something that is excessively expensive
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: luxury, sumptuosity, sumptuousness
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: expensiveness
History
Etymology
From lavish + -ness. Compare Dutch lafenis (“refreshment, lavishness”).
Across languages
Translations
2 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Finnish:
avokätisyys
— state or characteristic of being lavish
French:
faste
— state or characteristic of being lavish