costly

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "costly" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe something with a very high price. Example sentence: The new sports car was too costly for me to buy.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It's been expensive to bail out the banks, but as Lehman Brothers demonstrated, it would have been far more costly to let them go under.

The Economist

Her government's tacit support for Saddam Hussein's war against Iran led to successive Gulf wars and John Major's studied neutrality in Bosnia – which later pushed Tony Blair in the opposite direction, towards costly interventionism that overstretched MoD resources.

The Guardian - Opinion

We are now consulting regarding potential legal action and hoping against hope that the 12 libraries being thrown over to the community with the threat of volunteer-or-lose-it, will survive long enough for the future council members to realise their costly error and resume running this vital social and educational service.

The Guardian - Books

The England Under-21 defender was making his first start at Goodison following his full debut at West Ham United and despite that almost costly slip, he produced a prominent, assured outing from left-back.

The Guardian - Sport

The government is said to have learned that breaking its 2010 election promise to have no more top-down reorganisations of the NHS was politically costly.

The Guardian - Opinion

With work on the bridge running late, the project is viewed by some as having parallels with Hull's quest to become the UK's city of culture: a costly act of hubris.

The Guardian

The SNP pledge could therefore be costly, but isn't costed.

The Guardian - Tech

"It is easier and cheaper for partnerships to develop, compared with the costly and cumbersome takeover processes used by the private sector.

The Guardian

And the more horrific the circumstances, the more needful, the more precious, the more costly is the truth".

The Guardian

Yet their failure to take one of those chances might have been costly if Speroni had not saved bravely at Troy Deeney's feet two minutes into the first spell of extra time.

The Guardian - Sport

FT Alphaville makes a typically insightful point this morning – the cost of insuring Dutch debt against default has increased sharply in recent months, and is rather more costly than the German equivalent (having actually been cheaper a year ago).

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "costly" to describe not just monetary expenses, but also abstract costs like time, effort, or opportunities lost. For example, "a costly mistake".

Common error

Avoid using "costly" when you mean something is inexpensive or a good value. "Costly" always implies a high price or significant disadvantage.

Linguistic Context

The word "costly" functions primarily as an adjective, modifying nouns to indicate a high price or significant expense. It is used to describe items, actions, or decisions that involve a considerable cost, as confirmed by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

88%

Formal & Business

6%

Science

6%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "costly" is a common and versatile adjective used to describe something with a high price or significant negative consequences. Ludwig AI confirms that it is grammatically correct and widely used across various contexts, primarily in news and media. While often interchangeable with "expensive", "costly" can also imply a greater level of significance or detriment. When using "costly", consider the specific nuance you wish to convey and choose synonyms accordingly. Remember that "costly" always refers to a high price or significant disadvantage, never to something inexpensive or a good value.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

expensive

A more general term for high price.

high-priced

Emphasizes the high monetary value.

pricey

An informal synonym for expensive.

prohibitively expensive

Emphasizes that the cost is so high it prevents purchase or action.

dear

Implies a high emotional or sentimental value, besides monetary cost.

financially burdensome

Highlights the weight or stress caused by the expense.

extravagant

Suggests a level of expense that is unnecessary or luxurious.

uneconomical

Focuses on the lack of economic benefit or efficiency.

at a premium

Indicates a price above the norm, often due to exclusivity or high demand.

dearly-won

Highlights that something was achieved at a great sacrifice or effort.

FAQs

How can I use "costly" in a sentence?

You can use "costly" to describe something that has a high price or results in significant expense. For example, "The repairs to the car were unexpectedly costly" or "Delaying the project proved to be a costly decision".

What can I say instead of "costly"?

You can use alternatives like "expensive", "high-priced", or "pricey" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "costly" or "expensive"?

"Costly" and "expensive" are often interchangeable, but "costly" can sometimes imply a higher level of significance or negative consequence than just a high price. For instance, a "costly mistake" suggests significant repercussions.

What's the difference between "costly" and "valuable"?

"Costly" refers to something having a high price or causing significant expense, while "valuable" refers to something having great worth or importance. Something can be both, but they emphasize different aspects.