FRUGAL definition: economical in use or expenditure; prudently saving or sparing; not wasteful. See examples of frugal used in a sentence.

Definition of frugal adjective in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

Jan 18, 2026ย ยท frugal (comparative more frugal, superlative most frugal) Of something which is consumed (such as money, goods, etc.): Careful or wise in expenditure; avoiding waste.

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A frugal meal is small and not expensive. The diet was frugal: cheese and water, rice and beans.

Frugal is generally a good, positive word to describe someone who is careful with his or her money, although it can sometimes be used negatively to describe a "penny-pincher." Frugality is the related โ€ฆ

Frugal definition: Practicing or marked by economy, as in the expenditure of money or the use of material resources.

FRUGAL definition: 1. careful when using money or food, or (of a meal) cheap or small in amount: 2. careful whenโ€ฆ. Learn more.

Today, frugal is used to describe things that reflect a fastidious dedication to foregoing the fancy, as in โ€œhe insists on a frugal diet of fungi and fava beans.โ€

A person who lives simply and economically can be called frugal. Buying clothes at a consignment shop would be considered frugal. Not getting your mom a gift for her birthday โ€” that's just cheap.

Today, frugal is used to describe things that reflect a fastidious dedication to foregoing the fancy, as in โ€œhe insists on a frugal diet of fungi and fava beans.โ€

A person who lives simply and economically can be called frugal. Buying clothes at a consignment shop would be considered frugal. Not getting your mom a gift for her birthday โ€” that's just cheap.

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