prodigality

American  

[prod-i-gal-i-tee] / ˌprɒd ɪˈgæl ɪ ti /

noun

plural

prodigalities

1. the quality or fact of being prodigal; wasteful extravagance in spending.

2. an instance of it.

3. lavish abundance.

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Etymology

Origin of prodigality

1300–50; Middle English prodigalite < Latin prōdigālitās wastefulness, equivalent to prōdig ( us ) extravagant + -āl ( is ) -al ¹ + -itās -ity

Explanation

Prodigality is excessive or extravagant spending. Your friend may feel he needs those gold chairs for his living room, but to everyone else it’s another example of his prodigality. “Idleness is the greatest prodigality,” said Ben Franklin. He was probably right, but today prodigality is more often used to talk about spending monetary resources, as opposed to other kinds of resources. Prodigality does not merely refer to spending above your means. It’s excessive or wasteful spending, often with an eye toward the luxurious. Think of the Palace of Versailles, or that film star who owns ten expensive cars but doesn’t drive. Synonyms for prodigality include extravagance, profligacy, and lavishness.

Example Sentences

The Void of Azuzel was originally designed to punish prodigality, avarice’s mirror image, and vanity, pride reflected back on itself.

From Slate • Feb. 28, 2021

In point of extravagance and notoriety, the most celebrated of the feasts was that arranged by Tigellinus; which I shall describe as a type, instead of narrating time and again the monotonous tale of prodigality.

From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2019

With the prodigality that makes it unlike all other ballet troupes, it offers four different programs in this week alone, including nine works by Balanchine.

From New York Times • Jan. 20, 2016

And her most resourceful construction is the novel itself, a feat of narrative prodigality that staves off, word by word, the destruction of an entire community.

From The Guardian • Oct. 15, 2015

Laughter is easier, minute by minute, spilled with prodigality, tipped out at a cheerful word.

From " The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald