ENGLISH
REFERENCE

frugal

adj.
C1 Advanced US //ˈfɹuɡəɫ// UK //fɹˈuːɡəl// fru·gal

adj. careful with money or food. You use this to describe someone who lives simply and avoids wasting things.

adj. characterised by economy in the use of resources, especially money or food. Often carries a positive connotation of wisdom and self-control rather than a negative one of stinginess.


SIMPLE

He lives a frugal life and saves most of his salary.

CONTEXTUAL

By being frugal during their early careers, the couple managed to pay off their mortgage ten years ahead of schedule.

COMPLEX

The philosopher advocated for a frugal existence, arguing that true freedom is found in reducing one's desires rather than increasing one's wealth.

Synonyms
Origin

From Middle French, from Latin frugalis (“virtuous, thrifty”). Displaced native Old English spærhende (literally “spare-handed”).

Usage

Typically used as an attributive adjective before a noun or predicatively after a linking verb like 'be' or 'remain'.

Pitfall

he is very frugal with his timehe is very careful with his timeFrugal specifically relates to material resources like money or food; it is rarely used to describe the management of time.

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