frugality

American  

[froo-gal-i-tee] / fruˈgæl ɪ ti /

Also frugalness

noun

1. the quality of being frugal, or prudent in saving; the lack of wastefulness.

   Many people who have lived through periods of economic deprivation develop lifelong habits of frugality and are almost never tempted by wasteful consumption.

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Other Word Forms

• nonfrugality
  noun
• overfrugality
  noun
• unfrugality
  noun

Etymology

Origin of frugality

First recorded in 1525–35; from French frugalité, from Latin frūgālitāt-, stem of frūgālitās, equivalent to frūgāli(s) “economic” + -tās -ty ² ( def. ); see frugal ( def. )

Explanation

If you try to avoid waste by reusing and repurposing items that most people would throw away, your frugality will save you money. Some people use this word interchangeably with cheapness, but cheapness is an unwillingness to spend, while frugality is an unwillingness to waste. People who show frugality often find ways of making things useful that others do not. Even after the Depression ended, those who lived through it maintained their frugality, using old t-shirts for rags and washed-out cottage cheese containers instead of Tupperware.

Example Sentences

The moral is that, in everyone’s life, there will be one or two occasions when they will need every dollar, so frugality is to be cherished.

From MarketWatch • May 13, 2026

It’s frugality, yes, but it’s also a tiny self-imposed puzzle, one I’ve grown strangely fond of.

From Salon • May 12, 2026

Throughout the year, several high-profile OpenAI commitments have sputtered, thanks to the company’s newfound frugality as well as an increasing sense of dissatisfaction from its business pals.

From Slate • Mar. 25, 2026

Ultimately, the massive speculative capital spending is delivering the exact opposite of what a bond investor requires: safety, certainty and frugality.

From Barron's • Jan. 15, 2026

I’d have to tell Jemma more about Aunt Kitty and her frugality.

From "The Detective's Assistant" by Kate Hannigan

Related Words

• moderation
• prudence
• thrift