conspicuous luxury

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "conspicuous luxury" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is clearly and obviously luxurious, often in a way that is intended to attract attention or admiration. Example: "The hotel was filled with conspicuous luxury, from the marble floors to the crystal chandeliers."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

Materials pulled back from conspicuous luxury.

The New York Times

We were in Ive's black Bentley, which is as demure as a highly conspicuous luxury car can be.

The New Yorker

The problem, according to historians, was that the United States was entering a recession, and the public's appetite for conspicuous luxury was on the wane.

The New York Times

The telescope, which has a complicated scissor mechanism for adjusting its angle of view, evokes the ship's original purpose as a vessel of conspicuous luxury for Morgan and his friends.

The New York Times

It isn't lost on Visconti that his drama of life in and around a gritty Roman courtyard is the product of great expense and conspicuous luxury; in fact, that paradox is the very subject of the film.

The New Yorker

Conditions in the jail, where Mr. Frankel spends his days alone in a cell, wearing the same blue shirt and khakis in which he was arrested, are far from the conspicuous luxury of his past life.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

Specifically, the present study found that people in the low power (vs. high power) condition 1) prefer bigger sizes and more brand logos (i.e., conspicuous) on luxury clothing and handbags and 2) prefer status-associated luxury brands and dislike status-effacing mass market brands.

Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services

Moreover, new kinds of conspicuous consumption like luxury travel, cooking classes, fitness clubs and cosmetic surgery, even home improvements are competing increasingly with traditional luxury goods for the right to offer consumers emotional satisfaction.

The New York Times

In good times, such conspicuous consumption of luxury goods looks like progress, a mark of a country getting richer.

The New York Times

The conspicuous consumption of luxury goods in Europe is no longer the exclusive domain of wealthy European, American, and Japanese shoppers.

The Washington Post

And that may explain why exterior shots on "Real Housewives of Athens" are so stinting — the camera studiously avoids shots of conspicuous consumption and luxury.There are no pans showing gardeners trimming the topiary or maids dusting the ballroom chandelier.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "conspicuous luxury" when you want to emphasize not only the presence of luxury but also the deliberate display of it, often for social signaling or status.

Common error

Avoid using "conspicuous luxury" when you actually mean "conspicuous consumption". The former describes the quality of being obviously luxurious, while the latter refers to the act of buying expensive things to show off wealth.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "conspicuous luxury" primarily functions as a descriptive compound noun, modifying another noun to indicate a readily visible and often intentionally displayed form of opulence. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Encyclopedias

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Academia

10%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "conspicuous luxury" is a descriptive phrase used to denote readily visible and often intentionally displayed affluence. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and usable in English, although its frequency is uncommon. Usage is most prevalent in news, encyclopedias and scientific writing, which makes it a suitable phrase for neutral to formal contexts. If intending to describe the act of visibly consuming luxury items, "conspicuous consumption" is more appropriate. Alternatives include "ostentatious opulence" and "extravagant indulgence".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

ostentatious opulence

Replaces "luxury" with "opulence" and "conspicuous" with "ostentatious", emphasizing the display of wealth.

extravagant indulgence

Uses "indulgence" in place of "luxury" and "extravagant" instead of "conspicuous", focusing on the excessive aspect.

flagrant extravagance

Swaps "luxury" for "extravagance" and "conspicuous" for "flagrant", highlighting the blatant nature of the excess.

obvious lavishness

Replaces "luxury" with "lavishness" and "conspicuous" with "obvious", simplifying the language.

pronounced affluence

Substitutes "luxury" with "affluence" and "conspicuous" with "pronounced", focusing on the wealth aspect.

visible wealth

A more straightforward alternative, replacing "conspicuous luxury" with the simple idea of "visible wealth".

showy extravagance

Uses "showy" to describe the extravagance, emphasizing the intention to impress.

blatant consumerism

Highlights the consumption aspect and its obvious nature, diverging slightly from the pure luxury concept.

glaring ostentation

Uses "glaring" to emphasize how obvious the ostentation is.

noticeable sumptuousness

Emphasizes the quality of being luxurious and splendid to a degree that is easily noticed.

FAQs

How is "conspicuous luxury" used in a sentence?

You can use "conspicuous luxury" to describe environments, items, or lifestyles characterized by readily visible and often intentionally displayed opulence. For example, "The billionaire's yacht showcased "conspicuous luxury" with its gold-plated fixtures and expansive decks."

What are some alternatives to "conspicuous luxury"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "ostentatious opulence", "extravagant indulgence", or "visible wealth". Each emphasizes slightly different aspects of the displayed affluence.

What's the difference between "conspicuous luxury" and "conspicuous consumption"?

"Conspicuous luxury" describes the state of being visibly luxurious, while "conspicuous consumption" describes the act of purchasing luxury goods to display wealth. One is a quality, the other is an action.

Is "conspicuous luxury" a positive or negative descriptor?

The term "conspicuous luxury" is generally neutral but can imply a negative connotation, suggesting excessive or unnecessary display of wealth. The perception depends on the context and the audience.