thrifting

American

[thrif-ting] / ˈθrɪf tɪŋ /

noun

shopping for secondhand goods, as at a thrift store.

Rather than spending a ton on new, high-end designer suits and shoes, she attributes her style to the power of thrifting.
We went thrifting together at a few local yard sales.

Etymology

Origin of thrifting

First recorded in 1995–2000; thrift ( def. ) + -ing ¹ ( def. )

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

She told the court that "Natalie was keen on thrifting and Stephen had bought a big coat in a charity shop".

From BBC • Mar. 5, 2026

They found that thrifting can quickly turn into overconsumption through what they attribute to the rebound effect.

From Slate • Jan. 26, 2026

After surveying friends about what they didn’t enjoy about the thrifting experience, Russell cold-emailed 100 influencers she found on Instagram.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 21, 2026

He professes a love for James Franco, drinking Guinness, thrifting, dancing in random bathrooms and delivering confessions from bed.

From Salon • Dec. 26, 2025

Yet thrifting has been growing in popularity, even beyond the increasing numbers who value the treasure hunt and want to help the environment by keeping clothes and other items out of landfills.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 23, 2025

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023