adj · noun · 5 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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/ˈskɪmpi/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
Australia:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
rhymes with -ɪmpi
CMU ARPABET:S K IH1 M P IY0
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adj
Meaning 1
Small or inadequate; not generous; diminutive.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
They served a pretty skimpy portion of ice cream as the free birthday dessert.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
adj
Meaning 2
Very small, light, or revealing.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
Have you ever seen such a skimpy bikini?
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
adj
Meaning 3
Wearing skimpy clothing; scantily clad.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
noun
Meaning 4
A barmaid who wears little clothing.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: Australia, Western
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
adjective satellite
Meaning 5
containing little excess
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
a lean budget
a skimpy allowance
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: lean
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
From skimp + -y.
Across languages
Translations
31 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Bulgarian:
оскъден
(oskǎden)
— small or inadequate; not generous
Bulgarian:
недостатъчен
(nedostatǎčen)
— small or inadequate; not generous
Czech:
sporý
— small or inadequate; not generous
Czech:
nedostatečný
— small or inadequate; not generous
Czech:
chabý
— small or inadequate; not generous
Czech:
příliš malý
— small or inadequate; not generous
Finnish:
niukka
— small or inadequate; not generous
Finnish:
lyhyt
— small or inadequate; not generous
Finnish:
pikku-
— small or inadequate; not generous
German:
knapp
— small or inadequate; not generous
German:
sparsam
— small or inadequate; not generous
German:
spärlich
— small or inadequate; not generous
German:
dürftig
— small or inadequate; not generous
Italian:
striminzito
— small or inadequate; not generous
Macedonian:
ску́ден
(skúden)
— small or inadequate; not generous
Macedonian:
о́скуден
(óskuden)
— small or inadequate; not generous
Polish:
skąpy
— small or inadequate; not generous
Russian:
ску́дный
(skúdnyj)
— small or inadequate; not generous
Swedish:
torftig
— small or inadequate; not generous
Swedish:
snål
— small or inadequate; not generous
Czech:
sporý
— of a garment, very small, light, or revealing
Finnish:
niukka
— of a garment, very small, light, or revealing
Finnish:
paljastava
— of a garment, very small, light, or revealing
German:
knapp
— of a garment, very small, light, or revealing
Italian:
scinto
— of a garment, very small, light, or revealing
Macedonian:
те́сен
(tésen)
— of a garment, very small, light, or revealing
Polish:
kusy
— of a garment, very small, light, or revealing
Polish:
skąpy
— of a garment, very small, light, or revealing
Russian:
открове́нный
(otkrovénnyj)
— of a garment, very small, light, or revealing
Swedish:
avslöjande
— of a garment, very small, light, or revealing
Thai:
ล่อแหลม
(lɔ̂ɔ-lɛ̌ɛm)
— of a garment, very small, light, or revealing
