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Definition of frugal

frugal

/ˈfruː.ɡəl/
fru · gal
Adverb:frugally
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frugal Lexical Profile

frugal Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Sparing or economical as regards money or food; avoiding waste or extravagance.

Example

"By maintaining a frugal lifestyle during her twenties, she managed to save enough for a down payment on a house."

2

Simple, plain, and costing little (especially of a meal or daily provisions).

Example

"The monks sat down to a frugal supper of bread, lentil soup, and water."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
View all antonyms for frugal

Word Nuance & Usage

Unlike 'stingy' or 'miserly', which carry negative connotations of greed and unwillingness to share, 'frugal' generally carries a positive connotation of prudent resourcefulness and avoidance of waste.

• Rhymes for frugal

• Nearby Words

frozen
frozenness
fructose
frugal
frugalista
frugality
frugally

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed in the 16th century from Latin frugalis ('economical, virtuous'), derived from frux ('fruit, produce, value'), reflecting the idea of managing harvests and resources wisely.

Cite this Entry

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