prodigality

American  

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

noun

• prodigalities
  plural

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

2. an instance of it.

3. lavish abundance.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• prodigalities
  plural

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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

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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

See Examples For:

prodigality prodigalities

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

One entire side of his existence escapes us,—that fantastic side, of which the insane prodigalities and inconceivable disorders have been revealed to us by the bills found in his desk. 

From Other People's Money by Émile Gaboriau

We take no credit to ourselves for such precious prodigalities; for they are the inevitable and disinterested outpourings of affection.

From The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 07, No. 44, June, 1861 Creator by Various

"I bear no ill-will toward M. Fouquet; I only dreaded his prodigalities."

From The Vicomte de Bragelonne Or Ten Years Later being the completion of "The Three Musketeers" And "Twenty Years After" by Alexandre Dumas père

History is full of stories bearing witness to the extravagant prodigalities of certain nobles on such occasions.

From Manners, Customs, and Dress During the Middle Ages and During the Renaissance Period by P. L. Jacob

To reform the prodigalities of our predecessors is understood to be peculiarly our duty, and to bring the government to a simple and economical course.

From Memoir, Correspondence, And Miscellanies, From The Papers Of Thomas Jefferson, Volume 3 by Thomas Jefferson Randolph

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