frugal

adjective fru·gal \ˈfrü-gəl\

: careful about spending money or using things when you do not need to : using money or supplies in a very careful way

: simple and plain

Full Definition of FRUGAL

: characterized by or reflecting economy in the use of resources

— fru·gal·i·ty \frü-ˈga-lə-tē\ noun

— fru·gal·ly \ˈfrü-gə-lē\ adverb

See frugal defined for English-language learners

See frugal defined for kids

Examples of FRUGAL

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
[+]more [-]hide

Origin of FRUGAL

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: 1590

Related to FRUGAL

Synonyms: economical, economizing, provident, scrimping, sparing, thrifty

Antonyms: prodigal, profligate, spendthrift, squandering, thriftless, unthrifty, wasteful

Synonym Discussion of FRUGAL

sparing, frugal, thrifty, economical mean careful in the use of one's money or resources. sparing stresses abstention and restraint <sparing in the offering of advice>. frugal implies absence of luxury and simplicity of lifestyle <ran a frugal household>. thrifty stresses good management and industry <thrifty use of nonrenewable resources>. economical stresses prudent management, lack of wastefulness, and use of things to their best advantage <an economical health-care plan>.