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adjective

prodigal

PRO-dih-guhl
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Prodigal (adjective) means spending money or resources wastefully and extravagantly. Example: “His prodigal spending left him broke within a year.”

adjective
1
Spending money or resources wastefully and extravagantly.
"His prodigal spending left him broke within a year."
2
Having left and later returned, especially after behaving recklessly; used in the phrase "prodigal son."
"She returned home like the prodigal daughter after years away."
noun
1
A person who spends money recklessly; a spendthrift.
"He was the family prodigal, always broke by the end of the month."

How to use prodigal

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishWastefully extravagant with money — or, from the Bible story, someone who left and later comes back.

Common mistake

People often think "prodigal" means "wandering" or "returning" on its own — it really means wastefully extravagant; the "returning" sense only comes from the specific biblical reference.

Easily confused with
prodigy → prodigious →
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Word forms

Plural
prodigals
Comparative
more prodigal
Superlative
most prodigal
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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

His _____ spending left him broke within a year.

Etymology

From Late Latin prōdigālis, "wasteful," from Latin prōdigus, "lavish, wasteful." The "returning after abandonment" sense comes from the biblical Parable of the Prodigal Son.

Origin: Late Latin

Synonyms

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profligate squanderer extravagant improvident imprudent lavish loose-handed reckless spendthrift squandering uneconomical unthrifty

Antonyms

frugal stingy

Related words

blood liberal shower abandoned fancy excessive rip foolish

Rhymes for prodigal

madrigal
See all rhymes for prodigal →

Frequently asked questions

What does “prodigal” mean?
The word “prodigal” means spending money or resources wastefully and extravagantly. In plain terms, wastefully extravagant with money — or, from the Bible story, someone who left and later comes back.
How do you pronounce “prodigal”?
“Prodigal” is pronounced PRO-dih-guhl (/ˈpɹɑdɪɡəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “prodigal” in a sentence?
Here is “prodigal” used in a sentence: “His prodigal spending left him broke within a year.”
What is another word for “prodigal”?
Words with a similar meaning to “prodigal” include extravagant, improvident, imprudent, lavish, loose-handed and profligate.
What is the opposite of “prodigal”?
The opposite of “prodigal” — its antonyms — are frugal and stingy.
What part of speech is “prodigal”?
Depending on how it is used, “prodigal” can be an adjective and a noun.
Where does the word “prodigal” come from?
The word “prodigal” comes from Late Latin. From Late Latin prōdigālis, "wasteful," from Latin prōdigus, "lavish, wasteful." The "returning after abandonment" sense comes from the biblical Parable of the Prodigal Son.
How many meanings does “prodigal” have?
“Prodigal” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: spending money or resources wastefully and extravagantly.

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