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Definition of cheapskate

cheapskate

/ˈtʃiːp.skeɪt/
cheap · skate
Plural:cheapskates
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cheapskate Lexical Profile

cheapskate Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A stingy or ungenerous person who is reluctant to spend money or avoids paying a fair share of costs (informal).

Example

"He is such a cheapskate that he always finds an excuse to leave the restaurant just before the bill arrives."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
View all antonyms for cheapskate

• Nearby Words

cheaply
cheapness
cheapo
cheapskate
cheat
cheatable
cheater

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in late 19th-century American slang by combining 'cheap' (in the sense of stingy) with 'skate', a colloquial term of that era referring to a person or fellow (usually with a derogatory modifier, as in 'mean skate' or 'good skate').

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Cheapskate. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/cheapskate
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