scrimp

American  

[skrimp] / skrɪmp /

verb (used without object)

1. to be sparing or frugal; economize (often followed byon ).

   They scrimped and saved for everything they have. He spends most of his money on clothes, and scrimps on food.

   Synonyms:

   scrape, save, stint, skimp

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verb (used with object)

1. to be sparing or restrictive of or in; limit severely.

   to scrimp food.

2. to keep on short allowance; provide sparingly for.

   to scrimp their elderly parents.

scrimp British  

/ skrɪmp /

verb

1. to be very economical or sparing in the use (of) (esp in the phrase scrimp and save )

2. (tr) to treat meanly

   he is scrimping his children

3. (tr) to cut too small

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adjective

1. a less common word for scant

Other Word Forms

• scrimpily adverb
• scrimpiness noun
• scrimpy adjective
• unscrimped adjective

Etymology

Origin of scrimp

First recorded in 1710–20; from Scandinavian; compare Swedish skrympa, Norwegian, Danish skrumpe (originally from an unattested skrimpa, ) “to shrivel,” cognate with Middle High German schrimpfen “to contract”; shrimp

Explanation

When you scrimp, you get by on very little money. If you scrimp all year long in order to buy tickets to the Stanley Cup finals, you save every last penny to be able to go to those games. If you scrimp, yes, you are watching every dime trying to spend as little as you can — for the purpose of saving your money. Maybe you walk everywhere to avoid paying for a bus ride, or you make your friends cut your hair. Scrimp looks like shrink and scrape and that's the goal: shrinking the amount of money you spend to scrape together some savings, for a specific purpose or just the security of having money in the bank.

Example Sentences

However, I don’t want my son to think that I will take care of everything and that he doesn’t have to work hard and scrimp and save.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 6, 2026

“California and 35 other states are standing up for Americans who are sick and tired of being ripped off and having to scrimp and save to enjoy a night out,” Owens said in a statement.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 17, 2026

For years, the Hillsborough families had had to scrimp, save, and fundraise to pay for lawyers.

From BBC • Sep. 15, 2025

I was destined to scrimp and save and worry about money for the rest of my life.

From Salon • Oct. 8, 2024

This book was too important to scrimp on details.

From "The Girl Who Drew Butterflies: How Maria Merian's Art Changed Science" by Joyce Sidman

Related Words

• cut back
• skimp