thrifting

[thrif-ting]

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.

Word History and Origins

Origin of thrifting¹

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

Example Sentences

Hayley Doyle’s love for thrifting began in high school, when she would take her pocket money to shop for secondhand T-shirts and jeans to curate her personal style.

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Doyle, 28, describes herself as somewhere in the middle of Gen Z and millennials, groups that have fueled thrifting’s growing popularity over the past several years.

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Against this backdrop, thrifting is becoming more appealing for financially-squeezed families.

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Thrifting isn’t just fun for Doyle, it’s also more affordable than shopping at big-box stores or the mall.

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Young people thrifting clothes as they embrace their Y2K or cottagecore aesthetics have helped secondhand shopping shed its stigma, turning it into a trend, not a necessity.

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