thrifting
3 synonyms for thrifting, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — The activity of shopping for second-hand clothes and other goods in charity shops, thrift stores and similar places, both to save money and to find unusual items.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
charity shopping
op shopping
second-hand shopping
How to use thrifting
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
go thrifting
thrifted finds
thrifting haul
Informal and chiefly American in origin, now widely understood. British speakers more often say charity shopping, Australians say op shopping.
Etymology
From thrift store, itself from thrift in the sense of careful management of money.
Full origin of thrifting →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between thrifting and vintage shopping?
Thrifting means buying whatever second-hand goods turn up in charity or thrift shops, at low prices and with no curation. Vintage shopping means buying older items selected for their era, condition and label, usually from a specialist dealer at much higher prices.
What is thrifting called in the UK?
Charity shopping, or simply going round the charity shops. Thrifting is understood in Britain because of American social media but thrift store is not the usual local term.
