Splurge
/splɜːrdʒ/noun
To spend money freely or extravagantly, especially in a way that feels indulgent.
Did you know?Splurge is likely a playful, expressive formation from the 19th century, and its exact origin is uncertain, which makes it a rare word whose history feels as flashy and unstable as the spending it describes.
Etymological Timeline
19th Century
English
splurge
“to spend or indulge extravagantly; also, to make a showy display”
19th Century
English
splurg(e)
“a showy or ostentatious display; extravagant spending”
Unknown
English
splurge
“likely a sound-symbolic or expressive formation, possibly influenced by words like spurge or splatter”
Modern English
English
splurge
“to spend freely and extravagantly”