Word of the day: Parsimonious

Parsimonious is a word used to describe someone who is extremely unwilling to spend money or resources. While being careful with finances can be wise, parsimony can slide into stinginess.

In simple, everyday language, parsimonious means overly frugal or stingy. A parsimonious person hesitates to spend even when it may be reasonable or necessary. The word highlights reluctance to give, share, or invest resources.

Parsimonious focuses on attitude toward spending, not overall wealth. A person does not have to be poor to be parsimonious; in fact, the term is often used to describe those who have resources but are excessively tight with them.


The word appears frequently in journalism, financial commentary, literature, and workplace discussions, especially when describing budgeting decisions, management styles, or personal habits that seem unnecessarily restrictive.

Parsimonious is an adjective and carries a mildly to strongly negative tone. While it acknowledges thrift, it implies an extreme that may inconvenience others or be perceived as selfish.

The word comes from the Latin parsimonia, meaning “frugality” or “thrift.” Over time, its meaning shifted toward excessive frugality rather than simple careful spending.

Example sentences:

• The company’s parsimonious budget left employees struggling with limited resources.
  
• He was so parsimonious that he refused to replace broken equipment.
  
• Her parsimonious habits made even small gatherings feel constrained.
  

In real life, parsimony is useful in financial analysis, workplace commentary, and character descriptions. It allows writers and speakers to distinguish between sensible thrift and excessive stinginess with precision.