Standard Lemma guide

thriftiness

noun · 2 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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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

The property of being thrifty.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable, usually

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

frugality in the expenditure of money or resources

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • the Scots are famous for their economy

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: economy

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: frugality, frugalness

History

Etymology

Etymology tree English thrifty Proto-Germanic *-inōną Proto-Indo-European *-dyé- Proto-Germanic *-atjaną Proto-Indo-European *-tus Proto-Germanic *-þuz Proto-Germanic *-assuz Proto-Germanic *-inassuz Proto-West Germanic *-nassī Old English -nes Middle English -nesse English -ness English thriftiness From thrifty + -ness.

Across languages

Translations

12 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: saituus — the property of being thrifty
  • Ancient Greek: φειδωλία (pheidōlía) — the property of being thrifty
  • Icelandic: hirða — the property of being thrifty
  • Irish: baileachas — the property of being thrifty
  • Irish: bainistíocht — the property of being thrifty
  • Irish: críonnacht — the property of being thrifty
  • Irish: tíosaíocht — the property of being thrifty
  • Italian: parsimonia — the property of being thrifty
  • Kazakh: үнем (ünem) — the property of being thrifty
  • Latin: parsimōnia — the property of being thrifty
  • Macedonian: ште́дливост (štédlivost) — the property of being thrifty
  • Manx: frioose — the property of being thrifty