frugal
FROO-gul
/ˈfruːɡəl/
Sparing or economical with regard to money or food; not wasteful.
Describes a positive quality of being careful with resources, often out of necessity or principle, without implying meanness. It's about wise management, not deprivation.
The story behind the word. The word 'frugal' comes from the Latin 'frugalis,' meaning 'economical, thrifty,' which itself is related to 'frux,' meaning 'fruit, produce, profit.' The idea here is that by being careful and not wasteful, you reap the 'fruits' or 'profits' of your labor. It's a lovely connection between careful living and positive outcomes!
Word relationships
- economical: Similar to frugal, but often applies more to things (e.g., an economical car) or actions (e.g., an economical use of resources) rather than a person's character.
- thrifty: Very close in meaning to frugal, emphasizing the careful management of money and resources to avoid waste.
- sparing: Using or giving only a small amount of something; often implies restraint.
- extravagant: Lacking restraint in spending money or using resources.
- wasteful: Using or expending something carelessly, extravagantly, or to no purpose.
- lavish: Sumptuously rich, elaborate, or luxurious; spending or giving very generously.
Commonly confused with
- parsimonious: 'Frugal' is a positive trait of being careful with money. 'Parsimonious' is a negative trait, implying extreme unwillingness to spend, often to the point of meanness.
Word family
- frugality (noun): The quality of being frugal; carefulness in the use of resources.
- frugally (adverb): In a frugal manner.
Collocations
- frugal lifestyle
- frugal meal
- frugal spending
- frugal habits
- frugal budget
Example sentences
- "Despite his wealth, Mr. Henderson remained remarkably frugal, preferring homemade meals to dining out." Describing a person's spending habits.
- "The startup's frugal approach to marketing allowed them to allocate more funds to product development." A company's approach to expenses.
- "The Puritans were known for their frugal habits, believing that extravagance was a sin." A historical observation.
Memory hook
A FRUGAL person doesn't FRITTER away their money. FRUITful saving
When not to use
Do not use 'frugal' if you want to imply extreme stinginess or an unwillingness to spend even when necessary; 'parsimonious' or 'miserly' would be better.
Fun facts
- The Roman goddess Frugalitas personified frugality and economy.
Explore more words
prudent, extravagant, conserve, judicious, bootstrap, extravagance
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