frugal
- 01 C1 Advanced
careful to use only as much money or food as is necessary.
economical in use or expenditure; prudently saving or sparing rather than wasteful.
Simple“He has always been frugal with his earnings, saving most of his paycheck each month.”
In context“Despite his immense wealth, the entrepreneur maintained a frugal lifestyle, preferring modest accommodations to the luxury hotels his peers frequented.”
PitfallHe is very frugal of his money. He is very frugal with his money.Use the preposition 'with' to indicate the resource being saved.
SynonymsAntonyms - 02 C1 Advanced
small, simple, and costing very little money.
characterized by or reflecting economy; costing little and lacking unnecessary ornament or luxury.
Simple“After a long day of hiking, they enjoyed a frugal meal of bread and cheese.”
In context“The monks lived on a frugal diet of vegetables and grains, viewing culinary indulgence as a distraction from their spiritual duties.”
“The new owner has helped things, too; Sporting KC, once one of the most frugal teams in MLS, have gone on a spending spree.”
From Middle French, from Latin frugalis (“virtuous, thrifty”). Displaced native Old English spærhende (literally “spare-handed”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.