frugal

adjective

fru·gal ˈfrü-gəl How to pronounce frugal (audio)

: characterized by or reflecting economy in the use of resources

frugally

ˈfrü-gə-lē How to pronounce frugal (audio)

adverb

Did you know?

Frugal Has Surprising Roots

Those who are frugal are unwilling to (lavishly) enjoy the fruits of their labors, so it may surprise you to learn that frugal ultimately derives from the Latin frux, meaning "fruit" or "value," and is even a distant cousin of the Latin word for "enjoy" (frui). The connection between fruit or value and restraint was first made in Latin; the Middle French word that English speakers eventually adopted as frugal came from the Latin adjective frugalis, a frux descendant meaning "virtuous" or "frugal." Although English speakers adopted frugal by the 16th century, they were already lavishly supplied with earlier coinages to denote the idea, including sparing and thrifty.

Example Sentences

His meals are the frugal fare of the poor: tea, bread, yogurt, a bit of cheese, vegetables.

Johanna McGeary, Time, 25 Oct. 2004 Like frugal cooks everywhere, Cajun cooks from generations past found plenty of ways to use every part of the animals they raised.

Jeremy Sauer, Cook's Country, June 1995 In a frugal white frame house of tiny rooms that shook with every passing freight train, five boys of German immigrant background had grown up at the turn of the twentieth century.

Robert D. Kaplan, An Empire Wilderness, 1988 a frugal meal of bread and cheese by being frugal, the family is able to stretch its monthly budget

Recent Examples on the Web There will be no comparable tax reprieve for Americans who take out other loans and struggle to repay, or Americans who were frugal and didn’t take out college loans.

The Editorial Board, WSJ, 29 Aug. 2022 Germany, which has been frugal on military spending in the second half of the 20th century, pledged to hike defense spending above 2% of its total GDP in February after Russia invaded Ukraine.

Paul Best, Fox News, 1 Sep. 2022 Consumers are becoming more frugal as prices for essentials such as food and gasoline have become more expensive in recent months.

Patrick Thomas, WSJ, 8 Aug. 2022 Connecticut labor leaders already have said the program is too frugal.

Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 12 Aug. 2022 The company has been frugal, having raised a very modest $11M in Seed and Series A, while successfully taping out multiple generations of chips to prove the technology works.

Patrick Moorhead, Forbes, 11 Aug. 2022 De Castro was frugal long before inflation talk was everywhere.

Hamza Shaban, Washington Post, 10 Aug. 2022 That potential reduction, which was stipulated by the legislature, is of great concern to labor advocates who argue the program already is far too frugal.

Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 6 Aug. 2022 The Dacia proved reliable, frugal, and comfy to drive and sleep in.

Jonathon Ramsey, Car and Driver, 8 July 2022 See More

frugal

adjective

as in economical

careful in the management of money or resources by being frugal, the family is able to stretch its monthly budget

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

economical
economizing
thrifty
saving
prudent
provident
conserving
scrimping
sparing
cheap
preserving
foresighted
parsimonious
miserly
forehanded
foresightful
tightfisted
penurious
stingy
pinching
spare
penny-wise
penny-pinching
niggard
close
stinting
niggardly
mean
tight
closefisted

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

spendthrift
wasteful
profligate
prodigal
unthrifty
improvident
generous
thriftless
liberal
unselfish
charitable
shortsighted
munificent
bountiful
extravagant
squandering
indulgent
unsparing
lavish
openhanded
freehanded

Synonym Chooser

Some common synonyms of frugal are economical, sparing, and thrifty. While all these words mean "careful in the use of one's money or resources," frugal implies absence of luxury and simplicity of lifestyle.

ran a frugal household

The synonyms economical and frugal are sometimes interchangeable, but economical stresses prudent management, lack of wastefulness, and use of things to their best advantage.

an economical health-care plan

While in some cases nearly identical to frugal, sparing stresses abstention and restraint.

sparing in the offering of advice

The words thrifty and frugal can be used in similar contexts, but thrifty stresses good management and industry.

thrifty use of nonrenewable resources

单词	frugal
释义	frugal adjective fru·gal ˈfrü-gəl : characterized by or reflecting economy in the use of resources frugally ˈfrü-gə-lē adverb Did you know? Frugal Has Surprising Roots Those who are frugal are unwilling to (lavishly) enjoy the fruits of their labors, so it may surprise you to learn that frugal ultimately derives from the Latin frux, meaning "fruit" or "value," and is even a distant cousin of the Latin word for "enjoy" (frui). The connection between fruit or value and restraint was first made in Latin; the Middle French word that English speakers eventually adopted as frugal came from the Latin adjective frugalis, a frux descendant meaning "virtuous" or "frugal." Although English speakers adopted frugal by the 16th century, they were already lavishly supplied with earlier coinages to denote the idea, including sparing and thrifty. Synonyms economical economizing provident scrimping sparing thrifty See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences His meals are the frugal fare of the poor: tea, bread, yogurt, a bit of cheese, vegetables. Johanna McGeary, Time, 25 Oct. 2004 Like frugal cooks everywhere, Cajun cooks from generations past found plenty of ways to use every part of the animals they raised. Jeremy Sauer, Cook's Country, June 1995 In a frugal white frame house of tiny rooms that shook with every passing freight train, five boys of German immigrant background had grown up at the turn of the twentieth century. Robert D. Kaplan, An Empire Wilderness, 1988 a frugal meal of bread and cheese by being frugal, the family is able to stretch its monthly budget Recent Examples on the Web There will be no comparable tax reprieve for Americans who take out other loans and struggle to repay, or Americans who were frugal and didn’t take out college loans. The Editorial Board, WSJ, 29 Aug. 2022 Germany, which has been frugal on military spending in the second half of the 20th century, pledged to hike defense spending above 2% of its total GDP in February after Russia invaded Ukraine. Paul Best, Fox News, 1 Sep. 2022 Consumers are becoming more frugal as prices for essentials such as food and gasoline have become more expensive in recent months. Patrick Thomas, WSJ, 8 Aug. 2022 Connecticut labor leaders already have said the program is too frugal. Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 12 Aug. 2022 The company has been frugal, having raised a very modest $11M in Seed and Series A, while successfully taping out multiple generations of chips to prove the technology works. Patrick Moorhead, Forbes, 11 Aug. 2022 De Castro was frugal long before inflation talk was everywhere. Hamza Shaban, Washington Post, 10 Aug. 2022 That potential reduction, which was stipulated by the legislature, is of great concern to labor advocates who argue the program already is far too frugal. Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 6 Aug. 2022 The Dacia proved reliable, frugal, and comfy to drive and sleep in. Jonathon Ramsey, Car and Driver, 8 July 2022 See More Word History Etymology Middle French or Latin; Middle French, from Latin frugalis virtuous, frugal, from frug-, frux fruit, value; akin to Latin frui to enjoy First Known Use 1542, in the meaning defined above Kids Definition frugal adjective fru·gal ˈfrü-gəl 1 : careful in spending or using supplies 2 : simple and without unnecessary things a frugal meal frugal adjective as in economical careful in the management of money or resources by being frugal, the family is able to stretch its monthly budget Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance economical economizing thrifty saving prudent provident conserving scrimping sparing cheap preserving foresighted parsimonious miserly forehanded foresightful tightfisted penurious stingy pinching spare penny-wise penny-pinching niggard close stinting niggardly mean tight closefisted Antonyms & Near Antonyms spendthrift wasteful profligate prodigal unthrifty improvident generous thriftless liberal unselfish charitable shortsighted munificent bountiful extravagant squandering indulgent unsparing lavish openhanded freehanded See More Synonym Chooser Some common synonyms of frugal are economical, sparing, and thrifty. While all these words mean "careful in the use of one's money or resources," frugal implies absence of luxury and simplicity of lifestyle. ran a frugal household The synonyms economical and frugal are sometimes interchangeable, but economical stresses prudent management, lack of wastefulness, and use of things to their best advantage. an economical health-care plan While in some cases nearly identical to frugal, sparing stresses abstention and restraint. sparing in the offering of advice The words thrifty and frugal can be used in similar contexts, but thrifty stresses good management and industry. thrifty use of nonrenewable resources
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frugal

adjective

Did you know?

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Kids Definition

adjective

adjective

Synonym Chooser