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thrifting

American  
[thrif-ting] / ˈθrɪf tɪŋ /

noun

  1. 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.

See Examples For:

The total cost can be hundreds of pounds with savvy students renting, making or thrifting their outfits to save money.

From BBC Jul. 24, 2026

I’m plus-size, so thrifting is not easy in my size, so we did what we could.

From Los Angeles Times Jul. 10, 2026

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

From Slate Jan. 26, 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

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