profligate

American  

[prof-li-git, -geyt] / ˈprɒf lɪ gɪt, -ˌgeɪt /

adjective

1. utterly and shamelessly immoral or dissipated; thoroughly dissolute.

   Synonyms:

   licentious, abandoned

2. recklessly prodigal or extravagant.

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noun

1. a profligate person.

profligate British  

/ ˈprɒflɪɡəsɪ, ˈprɒflɪɡɪt /

adjective

1. shamelessly immoral or debauched

2. wildly extravagant or wasteful

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noun

1. a profligate person

Other Word Forms

• profligacy noun
• profligately adverb
• profligateness noun

Etymology

Origin of profligate

1525–35; < Latin prōflīgātus broken down in character, degraded, originally past participle of prōflīgāre to shatter, debase, equivalent to prō- pro- ¹ + -flīgāre, derivative of flīgere to strike; inflict, -ate ¹

Explanation

Profligate, as a noun or as an adjective, implies recklessly wasting your money on extravagant luxury. Profligate behavior is a lot of fun, but you'll regret it later — when you get your charge card bill. Any time someone behaves in a reckless, amoral, or wasteful way, they are engaging in profligate behavior. It usually refers to financial behavior but can cross over to social activity as well. A person who is a slave to their cravings and whose behavior is unrestrained and selfish can be called a profligate. Extravagantly profligate behavior is often wildly fun but usually comes with a heavy price to pay in the morning, both financially and morally.

Example Sentences

Skepticism about the wisdom of these profligate plans are a problem for indexes that are heavily weighted toward big tech like the S&P 500, which ended the week slightly lower.

From Barron's • Feb. 9, 2026

In Japan, a weaker yen appears to be a symptom of a broader economic and financial rebalancing underway as interest rates normalize, inflation picks up, economic green shoots appear, and Tokyo’s fiscal policies remain profligate.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 28, 2026

L.A.’s gleefully profligate, sport-altering franchise is on the verge of learning a costly, ancient baseball lesson:

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 30, 2025

Captain Dan Sheehan, Tomos Williams and Elliot Daly scored in a first half largely dominated by the profligate hosts in terms of territory but not on the scoreboard.

From BBC • Jun. 28, 2025

Although he possessed extraordinary reserves of energy, he’d been profligate with those reserves, and by the time he got to Camp Four they were nearly depleted.

From "Into Thin Air" by Jon Krakauer

Related Words

• extravagant
• reckless