Pricey or Pricy: Which Is Correct?

Updated 2026-10-12 · Which One Is Correct editorial team

Quick answer: Both spellings are accepted for the word meaning expensive, but pricey is the more common choice in modern English. Writers often confuse the two because they sound identical and share the same root. This page explains why the extra letter e usually wins and helps you decide when to use either form in your daily sentences.

The Short Answer

Both spellings are accepted; pricey is the more common. People confuse them because the words sound exactly the same and share the same definition regarding high cost.

The extra e in pricey helps distinguish it visually from pricy, which can look like a misspelling of the word price. While dictionaries accept both, style guides and general usage favor the version with the e for clarity.

Side-by-Side Comparison

Form	Status	Use it when
pricey	Accepted	Standard usage for anything expensive
pricy	Accepted	Rare usage, mostly seen in older texts
Adjective	Both	Describing a high monetary value
Modern Preference	One	Choose pricey for better readability

Correct Example Sentences

The ticket was pricey enough to make us rethink our vacation plans.
It is not pricy, but the restaurant charges more than usual.
She found the new watch pricey despite its classic design.
The grocery store had pricy items on the sale shelf.
Avoid buying a pricey car if you have a tight budget.
The hotel room felt pricy for the location and size.
They thought the software was pricey until they saw the features.
A pricey meal was worth it for the special occasion.
The antique vase was pricy according to the expert appraisal.
Don't be put off by a pricey tag if you love the item.

Common Mistakes and Fixes

The pricy price tag was shocking.: The pricey price tag was shocking.
We thought the movie would be pricy.: We thought the movie would be pricey.
Prices were pricy at the mall.: Prices were pricey at the mall.
That pricy outfit looked stylish.: That pricey outfit looked stylish.
The pricy meal filled our stomachs.: The pricey meal filled our stomachs.
It is not pricy to fix the car.: It is not pricey to fix the car.

A Quick Test You Can Use

If you are describing something as expensive, you may use either spelling, but choose pricey to match standard modern usage and ensure your writing looks polished to most readers.

Related Word Pairs

Pricey or Pricy: Both are accepted, but pricey is preferred.
Whom or Who: Use whom when the word follows a preposition.
Its or It's: Use its for possession and it's for the contraction.
Their or There: Use their for possession and there for a place.
Effect or Affect: Use effect as a noun and affect as a verb.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is pricy ever considered correct?

Yes, pricy is technically correct and appears in some dictionaries, but it is much less common than pricey. Most editors and style guides recommend using pricey to avoid confusion with the root word price.

Why do people spell it pricy?

People often spell it pricy because the extra e in pricey seems unnecessary since the word already contains the letter e in the root price. This creates a visual pattern that looks similar to the base word.

Which spelling should I use in formal writing?

You should use pricey in formal writing because it is the standard and most widely accepted form. Using pricy might make your text look informal or suggest a lack of attention to common spelling conventions.

Does the meaning change between the two?

No, the meaning does not change because both words mean expensive or high in cost. The difference is purely stylistic, with one spelling being far more prevalent in current English usage.