Parsimony: meaning, definitions and examples

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parsimony

 

[ ˈpɑː.sɪ.mə.ni ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

in science

The principle of parsimony states that among competing hypotheses, the one with the fewest assumptions should be selected. It is also known as Occam's razor.

Synonyms

economy, frugality, simplicity

Examples of usage

  • The scientist applied the principle of parsimony when developing the theory.
  • The concept of parsimony is widely used in the field of evolutionary biology.
Context #2 | Noun

in economics

Parsimony refers to the quality of being careful with money or resources, avoiding waste or extravagance.

Synonyms

economy, frugality, thrift

Examples of usage

  • The company's success was attributed to its parsimony in spending.
  • Her parsimony allowed her to save enough money for a comfortable retirement.

Translations

Translations of the word "parsimony" in other languages:

🇵🇹 parsimonia

🇮🇳 मितव्ययिता

🇩🇪 Sparsamkeit

🇮🇩 hemat

🇺🇦 ощадливість

🇵🇱 oszczędność

🇯🇵 倹約 (けんやく)

🇫🇷 parcimonie

🇪🇸 parsimonia

🇹🇷 tutum

🇰🇷 절약

🇸🇦 اقتصاد

🇨🇿 šetření

🇸🇰 šetrenie

🇨🇳 节俭 (jiéjiǎn)

🇸🇮 varčnost

🇮🇸 sparnaður

🇰🇿 үнемшілдік

🇬🇪 ეკონომია

🇦🇿 qənaət

🇲🇽 parsimonia

Word origin

The word 'parsimony' has its roots in the Latin word 'parsimonia', which means 'frugality' or 'sparingness'. The concept of parsimony has been influential across various disciplines, from philosophy to economics. It is often associated with Occam's razor, a principle attributed to the philosopher William of Ockham, emphasizing simplicity and minimal assumptions in reasoning.

Word Frequency Rank

Positioned at #24,236, this word is part of extensive vocabulary. It's relatively rare in general usage but may be important in specific fields or formal writing.