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Profligacy: meaning, definitions and examples

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profligacy

 

[ ˈprɒflɪɡəsi ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

excessive waste

Profligacy refers to the quality of being wasteful or extravagant, particularly with resources or money. It indicates a lack of restraint or moderation in spending and can imply moral corruption or reckless behavior.

Synonyms

dissipation, extravagance, lavishness, wastefulness

Examples of usage

  • The profligacy of the government led to a significant national debt.
  • His profligacy with his inheritance shocked his family.
  • The movie highlighted the profligacy of the wealthy elite.
  • Despite her profligacy, she always found a way to make ends meet.

Translations

Translations of the word "profligacy" in other languages:

🇵🇹 profligação

🇮🇳 बर्बादी

🇩🇪 Verschwendung

🇮🇩 pemborosan

🇺🇦 розкіш

🇵🇱 marnotrawstwo

🇯🇵 浪費

🇫🇷 prodigalité

🇪🇸 prodigalidad

🇹🇷 savurganlık

🇰🇷 낭비

🇸🇦 تبذير

🇨🇿 plýtvání

🇸🇰 plytvanie

🇨🇳 挥霍

🇸🇮 razsipnost

🇮🇸 sóun

🇰🇿 босқа жұмсау

🇬🇪 ფლანგვა

🇦🇿 israf

🇲🇽 prodigalidad

Word origin

The word 'profligacy' comes from the Latin root 'profligatus', which is the past participle of 'profligare', meaning 'to blow down' or 'overthrow'. This etymology reflects the idea of something being thrown away or wasted. The term evolved in English usage during the 16th century, where it began to describe moral or financial recklessness. Profligacy has been closely associated with concepts of moral decline, and it has often been used in discussions of spending habits, particularly in public policy and personal finance contexts. The evolution of the word has seen it used in literature and rhetoric to critique individuals or institutions that exemplify an excessive disregard for resources and ethical standards.

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #25,889, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.