Pricy or Pricey: Which Is Correct?
Pricey is the standard spelling, keeping the e from price. It means expensive. Pricy is a recognized variant — you will see it in print — but dictionaries list it second, and editors prefer pricey.
For example, “That restaurant is too pricey for me” is the standard form. The logic is simple: price + y = pricey, and English usually keeps the silent e when adding -y to avoid misreading.
Quick Answer
| Spelling | Status | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Pricey | Standard, preferred | The hotel was too pricey. |
| Pricy | Variant, less common | The hotel was too pricy. |
Simple rule: Keep the e from price — write pricey.
What Does Pricey Mean?
Pricey is an informal adjective meaning expensive, costing more than seems reasonable. It comes straight from the noun price plus the adjective ending -y.
Examples:
- This coffee shop is nice but a bit pricey.
- We loved the apartment, but it was too pricey.
- He has pricey taste in watches.
- Organic groceries can get pricey fast.
- They chose the less pricey option.
Major dictionaries list pricey as the headword. It behaves like similar e-keeping adjectives: dicey (from dice), horsy — and notably dyeing, which keeps its e for the same readability reason as dyeing vs. dying. See pricey on Merriam-Webster.
What Does Pricy Mean?
Pricy means exactly the same thing as pricey — expensive. It is the shortened variant, formed by dropping the e before adding -y.
It is not a misspelling: respected dictionaries record pricy as a variant. You will find it in newspapers, novels, and everyday writing. But it is the minority form — corpus data shows pricey outnumbering pricy by a wide margin.
Examples of the variant:
- The repair bill was pricy. (variant)
- It’s a pricy neighborhood. (variant)
Both sentences would be more standard with pricey. In anything edited or formal, keep the e.
Pricy vs. Pricey: Key Differences
| Feature | Pricey | Pricy |
|---|---|---|
| Status | Standard, preferred | Variant, less common |
| Dictionary headword | Yes | Listed as variant |
| Meaning | Expensive | Expensive (identical) |
| Pronunciation | /ˈpraɪsi/ | /ˈpraɪsi/ |
| Example | Too pricey for me. | Too pricy for me. |
The e-keeping pattern is the same one that preserves clarity in other spelling questions: English keeps the silent e when dropping it would blur the root word.
Examples of Pricey in Real Sentences
At Home
Pricey: “These organic snacks are getting pricey.”
A household budget complaint — the standard spelling fits naturally.
At Work
Pricey: “The vendor’s quote was too pricey, so we negotiated.”
In business writing, pricey is the expected form.
While Traveling
Pricey: “Taxis from the airport are pricey — take the train.”
Travel advice reads more trustworthy in the standard spelling.
Comparing Options
Pricey: “The first laptop was pricey, but the second was pricier still.”
Comparative and superlative forms follow naturally: pricier, priciest.
Common Mistakes With Pricy and Pricey
Mistake 1: Assuming “Pricy” Is a Misspelling
❌ “Pricy is not a word.”
✅ “Pricy is a recognized variant, but pricey is the standard spelling.”
Why: Dictionaries list pricy as a variant. It is not wrong — just less preferred.
Mistake 2: Writing “Pricey” as “Pricie”
❌ That jacket is too pricie.
✅ That jacket is too pricey.
Why: The ending is -ey, not -ie. Think price + y.
Mistake 3: Mixing Forms in One Document
❌ The menu is pricey, though the drinks are less pricy.
✅ The menu is pricey, though the drinks are less pricey.
Why: Pick the standard form and stay consistent.
Pronunciation: Pricy vs. Pricey
Both are pronounced /ˈpraɪsi/, rhyming with dicey and icy.
The spelling difference is invisible in speech — it only matters on the page, where pricey signals the connection to price more clearly.
How to Remember the Difference
Memory trick: Price paid full price for its e — don’t make it give the letter up. Price + y = pricey.
- Start with PRICE, add Y: pricey.
- Dropping the e (pricy) is like getting a discount — tempting, but the standard form keeps it.
- Same habit as dyeing: keep the e so the root word stays visible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it pricy or pricey?
Use pricey. It is the standard spelling. Pricy is a recognized but less common variant.
Is “pricy” wrong?
Not exactly — dictionaries list it as a variant of pricey. But in edited or formal writing, pricey is the safer choice.
What does pricey mean?
Pricey is an informal adjective meaning expensive or costing a lot — “a pricey restaurant,” “pricey tickets.”
What are the comparative forms?
Pricier and priciest — built on the standard spelling: “pricier than expected,” “the priciest item on the menu.”
Why keep the E?
Keeping the e preserves the visual link to price and matches the pattern of words like dicey. English often keeps a silent e before -y for readability.
Conclusion
Pricey is the standard spelling — price plus y, e intact. Pricy is an accepted variant but the clear second choice. Keep the e, and your spelling will always look right.
