parsimonious

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "parsimonious" is correct and usable in written English.
It is an adjective meaning "characterized by or showing parsimony, or extreme frugality in the use of resources". You can use it when referring to someone or something that is very careful in using resources or money. For example: The company owner was known for his parsimonious attitude towards spending money.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But the publication today of another tranche of management expenses suggests its most senior executives are increasingly parsimonious, at least when it comes to claiming back taxis, hotels and meals.

The Guardian

His methodology, outlined in The Methodology of Positive Economics in Essays in Positive Economics (1953), was that you should use the method that works best, that best explains and predicts final outcomes in terms of the most parsimonious set of explanatory variables.

The Guardian

At Housesteads, a couple of miles to the west, we wandered about the ruined settlement - marvelling at the luxurious expansiveness and underfloor heating of the commandant's house and the parsimonious lodgings allotted to the footsoldiers - until the fading light drove us back along the wall to the welcoming lights of Grindon hostel.

The Guardian - Travel

Ebookers (ebookers.com) has a three-night break at the five-star Vienna Hilton from £318pp, including breakfast and flights from Heathrow 6. LUDLOW One of the best things about Valentine's Day is that it's a good excuse for a glass or three and a slap-up supper after a parsimonious January.

The Guardian - Travel

There was only one occasion in the opening 45 minutes when the most parsimonious defence in Spanish football looked vulnerable and that was the chance that fell to Bale, after Tiago's sloppy pass, in the 32nd minute.

The Guardian - Sport

Most of the Labour manifesto proposals that relate to social security have already been announced: the parsimonious and economically senseless two-year cap on child benefit (there are no ancillary plans to make children cheaper to run, for the period) has already been announced by Ed Balls.

The Guardian - Opinion

And any parsimonious party organiser who, like me, experiments to see whether a small plastic bag containing a packet of Love Hearts and a 25p stripy eraser and matching pencil will do, soon discovers that it won't, at all.

The Guardian - Opinion

In comparison, the 3% growth in American consumption looks almost parsimonious.

The Economist

At the operating level, Mr Kozlowski remained thoroughly parsimonious.

The Economist

Bobby Jindal's parsimonious pitch Of dogs and democracy ReprintsMichael Carvin, the challengers' lawyer, called the case "straightforward".

The Economist

Yet the big brewers have been parsimonious in their marketing budgets, typically investing just 10% or so of their revenues, compared with around 15% at companies like Unilever and Procter & Gamble.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a scientific model, use "parsimonious" to indicate that it explains a phenomenon with the fewest possible assumptions.

Common error

Avoid using "parsimonious" solely to describe something of low cost; it emphasizes efficient use of resources, not necessarily low quality. Focus on the efficient use of resources, not just the low price.

Linguistic Context

The word "parsimonious" primarily functions as an adjective. It modifies nouns to describe a quality of frugality, economy, or the avoidance of waste, as highlighted by Ludwig's examples of "parsimonious defence" and "parsimonious habits."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

23%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "parsimonious" is an adjective that describes the quality of being frugal and avoiding waste. It's commonly used in contexts related to News & Media, Formal & Business, and Science. Ludwig AI affirms its correctness and usability in written English. While alternatives like "frugal", "economical", and "thrifty" exist, "parsimonious" carries a slightly more formal tone, often emphasizing efficiency and resourcefulness. A key writing tip is to use "parsimonious" to describe efficient resource use, and to avoid simply equating it with low cost.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

frugal

Focuses on avoiding waste and living economically.

economical

Emphasizes efficient use of resources to avoid waste.

thrifty

Implies careful management of money and resources.

stingy

Suggests an unwillingness to spend money, sometimes excessively.

miserly

Indicates extreme reluctance to spend money, often to a fault.

sparing

Highlights restraint in the use of something, not just money.

austere

Implies strict economy, often due to necessity or principle.

penny-pinching

Focuses on being extremely careful with small amounts of money.

cost-effective

Highlights achieving maximum productivity with minimum wasted effort or expense.

prudent

Suggests wisdom and careful planning in managing resources.

FAQs

How can I use "parsimonious" in a sentence?

You can use "parsimonious" to describe someone or something that is very frugal or economical, such as "The company owner was known for his parsimonious spending habits".

What words can I use instead of "parsimonious"?

You can use alternatives like "frugal", "economical", or "thrifty" depending on the context.

Is it better to be "parsimonious" or generous?

Whether it's better to be "parsimonious" or generous depends on the situation. Being "parsimonious" is good for saving resources, while being generous is good for building relationships.

What's the difference between "parsimonious" and "stingy"?

"Parsimonious" implies careful use of resources, while "stingy" suggests an unwillingness to spend money, often excessively.