economical
Americanadjective
-
avoiding waste or extravagance; thrifty.
an economical meal; an economical use of interior space.
- Synonyms:
- parsimonious, sparing, provident, saving
- Antonyms:
- profligate, prodigal, spendthrift, extravagant, wasteful
adjective
-
using the minimum required; not wasteful of time, effort, resources, etc
an economical car
an economical style
-
frugal; thrifty
she was economical by nature
-
euphemistic deliberately withholding information (esp in the phrase economical with the truth )
Related Words
See frugal.
Other Word Forms
- noneconomical adjective
- noneconomically adverb
- preeconomical adjective
- preeconomically adverb
- pseudoeconomical adjective
- pseudoeconomically adverb
- quasi-economical adjective
- quasi-economically adverb
- uneconomical adjective
- uneconomically adverb
Etymology
Origin of economical
Explanation
Someone who is economical avoids wasting things, like money or food. So if someone sees you wrapping up a bite of food that could be part of tomorrow's lunch, don't let him call you "cheap." Tell him you are economical. The adjective economical often describes someone who is frugal with money, but the word can apply to those who avoid wasting resources of any kind. An economical speaker, for example, avoids wasting words and doesn’t talk any more than is absolutely necessary. Someone who is economical with his time gets things done efficiently, just as an economical dishwasher uses the precise amount of water and electricity.
Vocabulary lists containing economical
Commonly Confused Words, List 1
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"A Retrieved Reformation" by O. Henry
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Ronald Reagan, "Tear Down This Wall" (1987)
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
This will obviate the need to travel to entertainment venues and make access economical and on-demand.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 23, 2026
For most of its runtime, “Undertone” is a new, defining example of economical horror filmmaking.
From Salon • Mar. 15, 2026
As a result, researchers have been searching for a more efficient and economical way to produce these exceptionally tough materials.
From Science Daily • Mar. 13, 2026
That homage did not extend to long soliloquy; “Burn the Water” is intentionally economical.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 2, 2026
How could they make ceremony better, more efficient, more economical?
From "The Marrow Thieves" by Cherie Dimaline
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
