thrift
English · Thesaurus
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thrift¹
- /ˈθɹɪft/
Rhymes with -ɪft
Where it comes from
From Middle English thrift, thryfte, þrift, from Old Norse þrift (“thriving condition, prosperity”). Equivalent to thrive + -t.
noun thrifts
-
The characteristic of using a minimum of something (especially money).
His thrift can be seen in how little the trashman takes from his house.
Similar: frugality
- A savings bank. Usually, home mortgages are obtained from thrifts.
- Any of various plants of the genus Armeria, particularly Armeria maritima.
- Success and advance in the acquisition of property; increase of worldly goods; gain; prosperity; profit. Bassanio: […]And many Jasons come in quest of her. O my Antonio, had I but the means To hold a rival place with one of them, I have a mind presages me such thrift, That I should questionless be fortunate!
- Vigorous growth, as of a plant.
Opposite: spendthrift
verb thrifts · thrifting · thrifted
- To shop or browse at a thrift shop; to buy (something) at a thrift shop. They like to go thrifting on weekends.
Thrift²
proper noun Thrifts
- A surname.
Thesaurus
Closest in meaning: parsimony, parsimoniousness, penny-pinching, frugality, austerity, rigour, saving, saver, conservation, bargain, economy, economics, cost-efficiency, savings, prudence, thriftiness
noun
Opposite: spendthrift
Translations
Every language
noun characteristic of using a minimum of something
| Español | parsimonia, parquedad, economía, ahorro |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 절약 jeoryak, 검약 geomyak |
| 日本語 | 倹約 ken'yaku, 節倹 sekken |
| 中文 | 節儉 /节俭 jiéjiǎn, 節約 /节约 jiéyuē |
| Português | frugalidade, economia |
| Français | parcimonie, économie, épargne |
| Deutsch | Sparsamkeit |
| Italiano | parsimonia, frugalità, risparmio, economia |
| Ελληνικά | λιτότητα litótita |
| Română | cumpătare |
| Русский | бережли́вость berežlívostʹ, эконо́мность ekonómnostʹ |
Talk about this word "thrift." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/thrift. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. thrift. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/thrift "thrift." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/thrift.Cite this
@misc{thrift_2026,
title = {thrift},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/thrift},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
