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Glite Dictionary
stratospheric cost

stratospheric cost

6.8
A very high price that is far above normal
  • noun
  • /ˌstrætəˈsfɛrɪk kɔst/
translation icon : costo estratosférico
  • The stratospheric cost of living in the city makes it difficult for many families to afford housing.

Examples

  • Due to the stratospheric cost of higher education, many students are graduating with significant debt.

  • The company had to raise prices to cover the stratospheric cost of raw materials.

  • The 'class' of permanently dependent citizens it will create, given our stratospheric cost of health care, would just be "average income and unlucky."

    Blog text (25)

Antonyms

affordable
307 2.1

Not too expensive for most people to buy

low-cost
42 2.0

Cheap to buy and easy to afford

How Expensive

stratospheric cost
6.8
exorbitant
25 7.9
high-priced
31 3.5
affordable
307 2.1
low-priced
11 1.0

Surface Forms

stratospheric cost singular
stratospheric costs plural

Morphology

stratospheric + cost

The adjective 'stratospheric' (figuratively extremely high) directly modifies 'cost', so the phrase compositionally yields 'an extremely high cost'. This is a regular adjective+noun pattern and the metaphor of 'very high' is cross-linguistically common, so a learner who knows both constituents can infer the meaning.

Etymology

Stratospheric cost uses the image of stratospheric, meaning very high in the air, and of a cost that reaches that height. Thinking of a price that reaches the sky makes it clear why it means 'very high' or 'extremely expensive'.