Sunk Cost
nounsunk costpronounced SUNGK kost
Last reviewed 16 April 2026
What does the noun Sunk Cost mean?
Money, time, or effort you have already spent and cannot recover, regardless of what you decide to do next. In property buying, this includes inspection fees, legal review costs, and strata reports paid for before making an offer.
How the noun Sunk Cost is used
We spent $800 on inspections for a house we didn't end up buying, but that's a sunk cost — it shouldn't push you toward a bad decision.
Related words
Cite this entry
MLA citation: "Sunk Cost." How to Property, 16 Apr. 2026, https://howtoproperty.com.au/definitions/sunk-cost. Accessed 29 May 2026.
Chicago citation: How to Property. "Sunk Cost." Last modified April 16, 2026. https://howtoproperty.com.au/definitions/sunk-cost.
APA citation: How to Property. (2026, April 16). Sunk Cost. https://howtoproperty.com.au/definitions/sunk-cost