frugal

USAGE SUMMARY

"frugal" is a perfectly acceptable word in written English.
It is an adjective that means "sparing or economical with regard to money or food". You can use it in any writing where you want to refer to someone who is careful with their spending or who uses resources carefully and effectively. For example, "The frugal farmer made sure to grow crops that would be able to feed her family for the winter."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But his dedication to social justice and commitment to alleviating poverty may now have counted in his favour – and much has been made of his humility and frugal lifestyle.

The Guardian

But, as I discovered over New Year, there is a more frugal alternative - get yourself to a monastery.

The Guardian - Travel

Doubtless the chancellor will still have a couple of surprises to spring on 18 March, but despite the improvement in the public finances in January, the budget will still need to be a relatively frugal affair.

The Guardian

"Most likely to participate would be frugal people who are careful with money," says John Welte, senior research scientist at the Research Institute on Addictions.

The Guardian - Money

But in Islam's holiest city, there is increasingly little sign of the prophet's legacy – or the frugal life he espoused.

The Guardian - Arts

In line with frugal innovation thinking, many existing capacities of tablets, smartphones and even "dumbphones" can be repurposed to serve diagnostic, monitoring, and therapeutic functions.

The Guardian

"He was unbelievably frugal," Rowell said Wednesday.

The Guardian

What makes ARM processors ideal for the cramped innards of a handheld gizmo is their compact design, low operating temperature and frugal power consumption.

The Economist

Mrs Merkel "fits the cliché that we Germans have of ourselves: frugal, sombre, awkward and a bit unpolished in a likeable way," says Ralph Bollmann, author of one of a ream of biographies published this year.

The Economist

The Turner team, fresh from the frugal culture of Atlanta, was astonished to find that the company had six corporate jets and a helicopter.

The Economist

Africa, potentially, offers a decent market for Indian firms, which have grown adept at "frugal innovation", that is making products that are both cheap and attractive, which might suit an emerging middle-class consumer in Africa as easily as the one at home.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing someone as "frugal", consider whether the context implies a positive trait of resourcefulness or a negative trait of being overly stingy.

Common error

Avoid using "frugal" when you mean someone is greedy or unwilling to spend money even when necessary. Frugality is about avoiding waste, not hoarding.

Linguistic Context

The word "frugal" functions primarily as an adjective. It modifies nouns to describe someone or something that is economical and avoids unnecessary expenditure. As shown by Ludwig, it's used to characterize behavior, lifestyles, and even innovation.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "frugal" is a versatile adjective used to describe someone or something that is economical and avoids unnecessary spending. According to Ludwig, its grammatical function is as an adjective, and its communicative purpose is to convey thriftiness and resourcefulness. The register is neutral, making it appropriate for various contexts, and the term is used in the news, business, and scientific domains. To recap, Ludwig AI confirms that "frugal" is grammatically correct and widely used. When considering alternatives, it's important to consider context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

economical

Focuses on efficient use of resources, a more general term than "frugal".

thrifty

Similar to "frugal", but emphasizes careful management of money.

sparing

Highlights the act of using something in small amounts to conserve it.

prudent

Emphasizes wisdom and careful consideration in avoiding risks and waste, differing from "frugal" which focuses on economy.

budget-conscious

Highlights awareness of and adherence to a budget.

austere

Suggests a strict and self-denying approach to resource usage, more severe than simply being "frugal".

cost-effective

Emphasizes achieving maximum productivity with minimum wasted effort or expense, relating "frugal" to results.

parsimonious

Implies extreme unwillingness to spend money or use resources, more negative than "frugal".

resourceful

Focuses on the ability to find clever ways to overcome difficulties, often involving the inventive use of limited resources. Differs from "frugal" which is about not wasting.

penny-pinching

Focuses on saving small amounts of money, sometimes to an excessive degree.

FAQs

How can I use "frugal" in a sentence?

You can use "frugal" to describe someone who avoids unnecessary spending, such as "She is a "frugal shopper" who always looks for discounts" or "He led a "frugal lifestyle" to save money for retirement".

What is a synonym for "frugal"?

Synonyms for "frugal" include "economical", "thrifty", and "sparing". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to be "frugal" or "cheap"?

"Frugal" generally has a more positive connotation than "cheap". "Frugal" implies wise use of resources, while "cheap" can suggest a lack of quality or unwillingness to spend even when appropriate.

What is the difference between "frugal" and "stingy"?

"Frugal" means being economical and avoiding waste. "Stingy", on the other hand, implies an excessive unwillingness to spend money, even when it would be reasonable or beneficial.