adjective
-
showing thrift; economical or frugal
-
rare thriving or prospering
Synonym Usage
See frugal.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of thrifty
First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English; see origin at thrift, -y 1
Explanation
Being thrifty means being careful of your money and how you spend it. Think twice before you spend, but if you must shop, hitting the sales and using coupons are good ways to be thrifty. Note the similarity between the adjective thrifty and the verb thrive, and you'll realize that being careful with your money might be an important survival tactic. Everyone worries about having enough — look at how thrift shops have become important sources of clothing and other goods for many people, allowing them to buy without spending a fortune. Being thrifty is a solid virtue, as suggested by the old German proverb, "Prudent men woo thrifty women."
Vocabulary lists containing thrifty
"A Modest Proposal" by Jonathan Swift
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
100 SAT Words Beginning with "T"
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
"The Necklace" and "The Fashion Show"
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
The airfare alert from Thrifty Traveler a few days before Easter was too good to ignore.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 22, 2026
Kids walked to the local Thrifty ice cream shop, to Altadena Elementary and Eliot Middle School.
From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 14, 2025
The headline of the week surely goes to Metro, which dubbed the whole affair "Wagatha Thrifty".
From BBC • Oct. 12, 2024
If the weather forecast is troubling, consider booking a backup flight, says Potter, the Thrifty Traveler editor.
From Seattle Times • Feb. 13, 2024
But every day while I was still at the downtown special ed we kept checking in the Thrifty Nickel free newspaper and finally there was an ad for a half Chihuahua and half dachshund.
From "Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key" by Jack Gantos
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
