parsimonious
Say it: pah-sih-MOH-nee-us /ˌpɑːsɪˈməʊnɪəs/ · adjective
What “parsimonious” means
Extremely unwilling to spend money or use things up.
More precisely: Extremely unwilling to spend money or use resources.
Example: “Our parsimonious landlord replaced the broken heater with a second-hand fan.”
When to use it
A formal, usually critical word for saving so strictly that ordinary spending or reasonable generosity becomes difficult.
Similar words
stingy, miserly, tight-fisted
Where it comes from
From Latin parsimonia, from parcere, 'to be sparing'.
Quick check
Although comfortably wealthy, a host serves each guest one thin biscuit to avoid spending money. The host is…
frugal or parsimonious?
Show the answer
parsimonious
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