frugal
fru·gal BrE [ˈfruːɡl] NAmE [ˈfruːɡl] adjective
1. using only as much money or food as is necessary
•a frugal existence/life
•He has always been hard-working and frugal.
Opp: ↑extravagant
•a frugal Methodist background
2. (of meals)small, plain and not costing very much
Syn: ↑meagre
•a frugal lunch of bread and cheese
Derived Words: ↑frugality ▪ ↑frugally
Word Origin:
[frugal frugality frugally] mid 16th cent.: from Latin frugalis, from frugi ‘economical, thrifty’, from frux, frug- ‘fruit’.
Example Bank:
•She comes from a frugal Methodist background.
•She has a frugal breakfast of oatcakes and tea.
•The monks lead a frugal existence in their isolated monastery.
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