priceless
Definitions
So valuable that a price cannot be set; invaluable
无价的；极珍贵的
(informal) extremely funny or absurd
（口语）妙极了的；滑稽至极的
Root Breakdown
Root-derivedprice + -less ('without'). Literally 'without a price' — but instead of meaning 'worthless,' it flips to mean 'beyond price,' too valuable to put a number on. The informal sense ('her face was priceless') means a moment so funny it's a treasure.
Root pric still carries 56 more wordsWhy It Means This
Priceless is a fun trap: -less usually subtracts value (homeless, useless), but priceless does the opposite — 'no price' here means 'too valuable to price.' Compare worthless, which works the normal way. So priceless and worthless are near-opposites despite similar structure.
Common Collocations
- 1.priceless treasure无价之宝
- 2.priceless artifact无价文物
- 3.absolutely priceless绝了；太逗了
- 4.priceless collection珍贵藏品
Example Sentences
- 1.
The museum houses several priceless works of art.
- 2.
The experience gave her priceless insight into the business.
- 3.
His face when he opened the gift was absolutely priceless.