profligate

American  

[prof-li-git, -gayt] / 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  

/ 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
• profligateness
  noun
• profligately
  adverb

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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; see inflict, -ate ¹

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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

See Examples For:

profligate

You call yourself a spender, but maybe that’s really just in the sense of spending all that you have coming in, rather than profligate luxury spending.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 11, 2026

Sony wrote off most of its investment just five years later following a string of box-office flops and profligate spending, before a turnaround helped by hits like 1997 blockbuster “Men In Black.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026

This is not to minimize deficit and debt considerations; profligate fiscal policies always run the risk of upsetting the bond vigilantes, he says.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 20, 2026

This much silence from pop music’s most dramatic main character, biggest cornball and most profligate breadcrumb dropper has rattled the usual channels for all things Swift.

From Salon ● Jul. 9, 2026

I guess I shouldn’t be surprised, since Balekin heads the profligate Circle of Grackles.

From "The Cruel Prince" by Holly Black

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Related Words

• extravagant
• reckless

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