different between expensive vs nonexpensive

English

Alternative forms

• expencive (archaic)

Etymology

From Latin exp?ns?vus, from expend?; synchronically analyzable as expense +? -ive. In the sense of "high-priced" has largely displaced dear.

Pronunciation

• (General American, Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?k?sp?ns?v/, /?k?sp?ns?v/

Adjective

expensive (comparative more expensive, superlative most expensive)

1. (obsolete) Given to expending a lot of money; profligate, lavish.
   • 1748, Samuel Richardson, Clarissa, I.4:

     [H]e had been very expensive when abroad; and contracted a large debt […].

   • 1751, Tobias Smollett, The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle, I.25:

     [T]hus naturally generous and expensive, he squandered away his money, and made a most splendid appearance upon the receipt of his quarterly appointment […] .

2. Having a high price or cost.
3. (computing) Taking a lot of system time or resources.

Synonyms

• See Thesaurus:expensive

Antonyms

• cheap
• inexpensive
• low-priced

Derived terms

• expensive drunk
• expensively
• expensiveness

Related terms

• expend
• expense

Translations

English

Etymology

non- +? expensive

Adjective

nonexpensive (not comparable)

1. Not expensive.