prodigal

American  

[prod-i-guhl] / ˈprɒd ɪ gəl /

adjective

1. wastefully or recklessly extravagant.

   prodigal expenditure.

   Synonyms:

   profligate

   Antonyms:

   provident, cautious

2. giving or yielding profusely; very generous; lavish (usually followed by of orwith ).

   prodigal of smiles; prodigal with praise.

   Synonyms:

   bounteous, copious

3. lavishly abundant; profuse.

   nature's prodigal resources.

   Synonyms:

   bounteous, copious

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noun

1. a person who is wasteful of their money, possessions, etc.; spendthrift.

   In later years, he was a prodigal of his fortune.

   Synonyms:

   wastrel, waster

prodigal British  

/ ˈprɒdɪɡəl /

adjective

1. recklessly wasteful or extravagant, as in disposing of goods or money

2. lavish in giving or yielding

   prodigal of compliments

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noun

1. a person who spends lavishly or squanders money

Usage

What does prodigal mean? Prodigal generally refers to spending money in a reckless, extravagant way. It is often used in reference to the Biblical parable of the prodigal son.

Related Words

See lavish.

Other Word Forms

• prodigality
  noun
• prodigally
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of prodigal

First recorded in 1500–10; back formation from prodigality

Explanation

Use the adjective prodigal to describe someone who spends too much money, or something very wasteful. Your prodigal spending on fancy coffee drinks might leave you with no money to buy lunch. Prodigal usually applies to the spending of money. In the Bible, the Prodigal Son leaves home and wastes all his money. The noun forms of the word, meaning "a wasteful person" or "one who returns home after a period of bad behavior," relate to this biblical story. You can also use prodigal to describe something that is very abundant or generous, such as prodigal praise. Prodigal comes from the Latin word prodigere, "to drive away or waste."

Example Sentences

When the Prodigal Son’s older brother is bothered about the feast, his father tells him to rejoice in his brother’s return.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 17, 2025

But some is sight readable: “Apollo,” “The Prodigal Son,” “Romeo and Juliet.”

From New York Times • Oct. 26, 2021

Prodigal Son The New York Police Department hopes that finding a serial killer could help them locate one of their own in the season finale.

From Los Angeles Times • May 18, 2021

Here, the “Return of The Prodigal” radiates over the altar of the Chapel of the Prodigal, a mountain-Gothic building at Montreat College.

From Washington Post • May 6, 2021

‘And we’ll kill the fatted calf—you long-lost whatever-you-are. Come an hour after candles are lit. Prodigal Son, what? Got a cup, has he?’

From "Johnny Tremain" by Esther Hoskins Forbes