# prodigal

/ˈpɹɑdɪɡəɫ/ (US) · /pɹˈɒdɪɡəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/prodigal
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. wasteful with money

adjective · CEFR C1 · Literary

spending money or using resources in a wasteful and reckless way.

For teachers: characterised by wasteful extravagance or reckless spending of resources.

- The prodigal heir spent his entire inheritance on luxury cars and parties within a year.
- His prodigal lifestyle eventually led to a complete depletion of the family trust, leaving him with no choice but to seek employment.

### 2. returning home

adjective · CEFR C1 · Literary

describing someone who leaves home to live a wild life but eventually returns feeling sorry.

For teachers: referring to a person who returns after a period of absence and reckless living, typically seeking forgiveness.

- The family prepared a huge feast to welcome their prodigal daughter back home.
- The narrative arc follows the prodigal protagonist as he realizes the vanity of his travels and attempts to reconcile with his estranged father.

Usage: Almost always used in the fixed phrase 'prodigal son' or 'prodigal daughter'.

Teaching tip: Learners often mistakenly think 'prodigal' means 'wandering' or 'returning'; its core meaning is actually 'wasteful'.

### 3. lavish or abundant

adjective · CEFR C2 · Literary

giving or producing something in very large, generous amounts.

For teachers: yielding or giving something in a profuse or lavishly abundant manner.

- The garden was prodigal with its flowers, filling the air with a thick scent.
- Nature is often prodigal in its beauty, offering sights that far exceed what is necessary for mere survival.

Usage: Often takes the preposition 'with' or 'of'.

### 4. a wasteful person

noun · CEFR C1 · Literary

a person who spends money in a reckless and wasteful way.

For teachers: a person who spends money or resources in a recklessly extravagant manner.

- He was a known prodigal who could never keep a dollar in his pocket for long.
- The biography portrays him not as a villain, but as a charming prodigal who simply lacked the discipline to manage his vast wealth.

## Examples

- The prodigal son spent all his money on luxury.
- The family was shocked when the prodigal returned home with no savings and a heavy debt.
- The novel explores the tragic journey of a prodigal who, after years of reckless spending, is forced to confront the consequences of his financial irresponsibility.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.