economical

adjective

eco·​nom·​i·​cal ˌe-kə-ˈnä-mi-kəl 

ˌē-kə-

1

: marked by careful, efficient, and prudent use of resources : thrifty

an economical shopper

2

: operating with little waste or at a saving

an economical car

3

archaic : economic sense 5

Synonyms of economical

• economizing
• saving
• frugal
• thrifty
• prudent
• conserving
• provident
• sparing

Choose the Right Synonym for economical

sparing, frugal, thrifty, economical mean careful in the use of one's money or resources.

sparing stresses abstention and restraint.

sparing in the offering of advice

frugal implies absence of luxury and simplicity of lifestyle.

ran a frugal household

thrifty stresses good management and industry.

thrifty use of nonrenewable resources

economical stresses prudent management, lack of wastefulness, and use of things to their best advantage.

an economical health care plan

Examples of economical in a Sentence

an economical way to heat your house

a practical and economical solution to the problem

Recent Examples on the Web

In the foothills of the Andes Mountains, outside Santiago, Chile, Casa Oruga is a modern home that demonstrates the possibilities of combining design-forward architecture and economical shipping containers. —Caitlin Gunther, Architectural Digest, 17 June 2026

Dahlias are available as pre-started plants from garden centers and plant sales, but they can also be purchased as tubers, which are much more economical. —Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 June 2026

Pickles were introduced to American cuisine by Eastern European Jewish immigrants who preserved cucumbers as an economical solution to extend the shelf life of their foods, Abbott said. —Scottie Andrew, CNN Money, 14 June 2026

Eco in this case is short for economy or economical mode. —Abby Monteil, The Spruce, 12 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Medieval Latin oeconomicus "relating to domestic affairs, economic" + -al entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Phrases Containing economical

• economical prices

Rhymes for economical

• anatomical
• astronomical
• comical
• neuroanatomical
• uneconomical

Kids Definition

economical

adjective

ec·​o·​nom·​i·​cal

ˌek-ə-ˈnäm-i-kəl, 

ˌē-kə-

1

: using resources with care and without waste

2

: operating with little waste or at a savings

an economical car

economically

-i-k(ə-)lē

adverb