price gouging
/praɪs ˈɡaʊdʒɪŋ/
Very CommonCharging way more than something is worth, often during a crisis or because you can get away with it.
Has a legal definition (illegal price spikes during emergencies) and a broader informal use (any time a company raises prices in a way that feels exploitative). Online use is almost always the informal version.
| # | Example | What it means | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | hotel doubled their rates the night of the hurricane evacuation, that's price gouging | Emergency pricing during a crisis is exploitative. | x, 2024 |
| 02 | eggs at $9 a dozen isn't inflation anymore, it's price gouging with a new name | Companies are using inflation as cover for profit-driven price hikes. | reddit, 2024 |
| 03 | water bottles for $20 at the stadium is legal price gouging | Captive audiences get charged far above normal market rates. | tiktok, 2023 |
| 04 | they can call it dynamic pricing all they want, still looks like price gouging to me | Corporate rebranding of exploitative pricing doesn't change what it is. | x, 2024 |
Use it when
- A company raises prices completely during a crisis.
- Prices increase in a market with little competition.
- A seller exploits high demand to charge far above normal rates.
- Reacting to a price increase that feels exploitative.
Do not use it when
- Prices are just higher than you want to pay but still competitive.
- A business raises prices to cover genuine cost increases.
Variations and related forms
Price gouging vs greedflation
price gouging
Price gouging is a specific act by one seller exploiting captive demand.
greedflation
Greedflation is broader: the theory that inflation is driven by corporate profits across the economy.
Origin and context
Legal and economic term that became common in everyday language during the COVID-19 pandemic when consumer goods like masks and hand sanitizer surged in price. Online use broadened the term to any perceived exploitative pricing.
- First seen
- 20th-century
- Confidence
- medium
Cite this page
Use this stable URL to reference the entry.
https://slang.fyi/price-gouging