Exorbitant means unreasonably and shockingly expensive or excessive. When something is exorbitant, it costs way more than it should, or goes far beyond what's normal or fair.

If a movie theater charges an exorbitant price for popcorn (like $20 for a small bag), people feel ripped off because that's wildly more than popcorn should cost. If your friend demands an exorbitant number of trading cards in exchange for one of theirs, they're asking for far more than a fair trade. A landlord who charges exorbitant rent is demanding an unreasonable amount of money.

When prices or demands are exorbitant, they've wandered far off the path of what's reasonable. Something exorbitant doesn't just cost a little too much: it costs so much that it makes you gasp or shake your head in disbelief.

You might also hear people talk about exorbitant demands or exorbitant fees. In each case, the word signals that someone is asking for way more than is fair. When you call something exorbitant, you're pointing out that it has crossed the line from expensive into outrageous.