English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
FreeDict.com
adj

thrifty

THRIHF-tee
adj
1
Careful with money; avoiding unnecessary spending or waste.
"Being thrifty, she always compared prices before buying groceries."
"A thrifty cook can make a good meal from leftovers."

How to Use Thrifty

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishCareful and sensible about spending money, in a positive sense.

Common mistake

Thrifty is a compliment, unlike "stingy" or "cheap," which suggest someone is unwilling to spend even when they should.

Common pairings
thrifty shopper thrifty habits

Word Forms

thriftier comparative, thriftiest superlative

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “thrifty” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

Being _____, she always compared prices before buying groceries.

Etymology

Formed from thrift plus the adjective ending -y, dating back to Middle English.

Related Words

Rhymes for thrifty

See all rhymes for thrifty →

People Also Searched

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial