costly

6 definitions • 10 examples

expensive, especially too expensive:

a costly item

a costly purchase

costly delays The project was subject to several costly delays.

costly setbacks The industry gradually recovered after suffering two costly setbacks.

involving a lot of loss or damage:

Building this bridge has already been too costly in terms of lives (= people have been killed while working on it).

expensive:

This procedure can be very costly.

done by making you give or lose something of value:

Her costly mistake allowed the opponents to score.

costing a lot of money:

costly repairs

The delays in the schedule proved very costly.

harmful, and involving a lot of loss or damage:

Their failure to consult staff members was a costly mistake.