Thriftiness: meaning, definitions and examples

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thriftiness

 

[ ˈθrɪftiˌnɪs ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

personal finance

The quality of being careful with money and not wasting things. Thriftiness involves making wise financial decisions and living within one's means.

Synonyms

economy, frugality, parsimony.

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Word Description / Examples
thriftiness

Situations where someone is showing good management of money and resources without being overly restrictive. It has a positive connotation.

  • Her thriftiness allowed her to save enough money to travel the world
  • Thriftiness is a valuable skill in managing personal finances
frugality

Emphasizes the careful use of financial resources, often by avoiding unnecessary expenses. Generally, it has a positive connotation.

  • Her frugality was evident when she opted for a homemade lunch instead of eating out
  • Frugality can help people build a significant savings over time
economy

Broad situations involving general financial management, both personal and large-scale, like managing a country's resources or one's household budget.

  • The government's economy policies aimed to reduce the national debt
  • Practicing good economy at home can help save money for future needs
parsimony

Describes extreme unwillingness to spend money or use resources; often considered a negative trait.

  • His parsimony was evident when he refused to tip the waiter
  • The company's parsimony led to poorly maintained equipment

Examples of usage

  • Her thriftiness allowed her to save up for a down payment on a house.
  • Thrifty people often prioritize saving money for the future.
  • Thriftiness is a valuable trait in today's consumer-driven society.

Translations

Translations of the word "thriftiness" in other languages:

🇵🇹 economia

🇮🇳 मितव्ययिता

🇩🇪 Sparsamkeit

🇮🇩 hemat

🇺🇦 ощадливість

🇵🇱 oszczędność

🇯🇵 倹約 (けんやく)

🇫🇷 économie

🇪🇸 ahorro

🇹🇷 tutum

🇰🇷 절약 (jeol-yak)

🇸🇦 توفير

🇨🇿 úspornost

🇸🇰 šetrenie

🇨🇳 节俭 (jiéjiǎn)

🇸🇮 varčnost

🇮🇸 sparnaður

🇰🇿 үнемділік

🇬🇪 ეკონომია

🇦🇿 qənaət

🇲🇽 ahorro

Etymology

The word 'thriftiness' originated from the Middle English word 'thrifti,' meaning thriving or prosperous. The concept of thriftiness has been valued in various cultures throughout history as a virtue associated with prudence and wisdom in managing resources. In the modern context, thriftiness is often encouraged as a means of achieving financial stability and security.

See also: thrift, thrifty.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #37,615, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.