exorbitant

What does “exorbitant” mean?

adjective.(of a price or amount charged) unreasonably high.

SAT Usage

exorbitant is often found in contexts discussing economics, consumerism, or social issues. It emphasizes not just high costs, but an unreasonable or excessive nature that may provoke outrage or criticism, distinguishing it from terms like "high" or "expensive," which lack the implication of unfairness or unreasonableness.

Common Confusions

Exorbitant implies an unreasonably high cost that provokes outrage, while expensive usually suggests a high price without the connotation of unfairness or excessive nature.

Example Sentences

• The hotel's rates during the festival were exorbitant.

Word Parts: How to Remember “exorbitant”

Break “exorbitant” into its parts: ex- (out of, from). Knowing roots like these helps you decode unfamiliar SAT vocabulary.

• Prefix: ex- out of, from (Latin)