thrift

American  

[thrift] / θrɪft /

noun

1. economical management; economy; frugality.

   My father valued thrift, hard work, and self-sufficiency.

   Memories of her thrift and capability inspire me.

2. Also called thrift institution.  Banking. a savings and loan association, savings bank, or credit union.

   To help the thrifts survive, Congress deregulated the industry, lifting restrictions on the kinds of loans they could make.

3. 1. Also called sea pink.  any alpine and maritime plant belonging to the genus Armeria, of the leadwort family, having pink or white flowers, especially A. maritima, noted for its vigorous growth.

   2. any of various similar or related plants.

4. vigorous growth, as of a plant.

5. Obsolete. prosperity.

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verb (used with object)

1. to buy secondhand, as at a thrift store.

   I thrifted these purple suede pumps for ten bucks.

thrift British  

/ θrɪft /

noun

1. wisdom and caution in the management of money

2. Also called: sea pink.  any of numerous perennial plumbaginaceous low-growing plants of the genus Armeria, esp A. maritima, of Europe, W Asia, and North America, having narrow leaves and round heads of pink or white flowers

3. rare vigorous thriving or growth, as of a plant

4. a building society, savings bank, or credit union

5. an obsolete word for prosperity

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Other Word Forms

• nonthrift adjective
• thriftless adjective
• thriftlessly adverb
• thriftlessness noun

Etymology

Origin of thrift

First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English, from Old Norse: “well-being, prosperity”; thrive

Example Sentences

The band made their live debut at a house party on Valentine's Day 1977, decorating the walls with Barbie dolls and dressing in thrift store wigs.

From BBC

“Otherwise, there’s a library, a coffee shop, a dance studio. Um...We have three thrift and antique shops. And there’s the national park.”

From Literature

Somewhere between page 39 and the fluorescent lights of that thrift store, I realized what I actually wanted to make wasn’t a better “unfried chicken.”

From Salon

My grandma loves shopping a bit too much, but she shops at thrift stores, so their shopping and entertainment expenses remain low.

From MarketWatch

The company promises to distribute all that waste to specialty recyclers, manufacturers, even thrift shops.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• austerity
• frugality
• prudence