Etymology Map
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Extravagant

3 stages from Medieval Latin to English.

Today it means spending too much; excessive

Where does the word "extravagant" come from? It comes from Medieval Latin extravagari, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
extravagari
Medieval Latin · medieval
"to wander outside"
'extra', outside, plus 'vagari', to wander
2
Stage 2 of 3
extravagant
Old French · medieval
"wandering"
used of papal decrees outside the canon law
3
Stage 3 of 3
extravagant
English · 1300s
"unusual"
the sense 'wasteful' dates from the 1700s
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Read the full story

Extravagant’s story begins in Medieval Latin: extravagari meant “to wander outside.” 'extra', outside, plus 'vagari', to wander. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as extravagant. Used of papal decrees outside the canon law. It reached English by 1300s as extravagant. The sense 'wasteful' dates from the 1700s. Today, extravagant means spending too much; excessive.