notexpensive

Notexpensive is a colloquial adjective used to describe goods or services that are not expensive, i.e., priced affordably relative to the buyer's expectations. In standard English, this meaning is normally expressed with the two-word phrase not expensive, or with the synonyms inexpensive or affordable. The single-word form notexpensive is uncommon in formal writing and is typically encountered in branding, marketing copy, or as a stylized product name.

Linguistically, notexpensive combines the negation not with the adjective expensive. The phrase implies value or reasonable pricing rather than a claim of unusually low price; it can be subjective and context-dependent. In consumer discourse, notexpensive may carry a positive connotation of fairness or cost-effectiveness, while “cheap” can imply lower quality. Marketers may use notexpensive to position items as affordable without eroding perceived quality. Some brands or domains adopt close variants such as NotExpensive or not-expensive as a brand identity, capitalizing on the promise of reasonable pricing.

Common related terms include inexpensive, affordable, cost-effective, and value for money. Notexpensive is not typically used in formal writing; when precision is required, writers should opt for inexpensive or affordable or supply price data.

See also: Inexpensive; Affordable; Value for money; Price-quality relationship.