thrifty

adjective

ˈthrif-tē 

thriftier; thriftiest

1

: given to or marked by economy and good management

2

: thriving by industry and frugality : prosperous

3

: growing vigorously

thriftily

ˈthrif-tə-lē 

adverb

thriftiness

ˈthrif-tē-nəs 

noun

Synonyms

• economical
• economizing
• frugal
• provident
• scrimping
• sparing

Choose the Right Synonym for thrifty

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 thrifty in a Sentence

if you are thrifty, you can find ways to decorate your room stylishly yet inexpensively

Recent Examples on the Web

Everyone is leaning eclectic and thrifty: The pendulum has officially swung away from perfectly put-together. —Maggie Gillette, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Jan. 2025

Thrilling yet thrifty With ample clear tarmac ahead of me atop SoCal’s Angeles National Forest, the 2025 McLaren Artura was phenomenal. —Peter Nelson, The Verge, 23 Dec. 2024

Dean emphasized to me that the goal was to get an accurate sense of what a thrifty household was actually paying for food, rather than an attempt to change SNAP per se. —Dylan Matthews, Vox, 7 Dec. 2018

Like McDonald’s, Burger King launched a $5 value meal over the summer to appeal to thrifty consumers. —Amelia Lucas, CNBC, 13 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Kids Definition

thrifty

adjective

ˈthrif-tē 

thriftier; thriftiest

1

: doing well because of hard work and thrift : prosperous

2

: growing strongly

thrifty cattle

3

: tending to save money

thriftily

-tə-lē 

adverb