frugal

Word family

fru·gal /ˈfruːɡəl/ adjectiveadj

1 SPEND MONEYcareful to buy only what is necessary 节俭的，节约的 OPP extravagant

As children we were taught to be frugal and hard-working.

我们小时候被教育要节俭和勤劳。

He led a remarkably frugal existence.

他过着极其节俭的生活。

2 DFDa frugal meal is a small meal of plain food 〔膳食〕少量的，简便的，简单的 SYN simple OPP extravagant

a frugal breakfast

简单的早餐

—frugally adverbadv

—frugality /fruːˈɡæləti/ noun [uncountableU]

Examples from the Corpus

frugal• Since those officials are not under the thumb of councillors worried about rates increases, they are less likely to be frugal.• Entrepreneurs have to be particularly frugal and inventive.• He was a hardworking, frugal and thrifty man who was saving to buy a small cottage from his employer.• He was very frugal, and would often use a tea bag three or four times over.• The monks lead a frugal life, allowing themselves only the bare essentials.• He found the president eating a frugal meal and using pottery dishes and knife, fork, and spoon of iron.• But it is a frugal state, and the politics of frugality often breed conservative social and civic decisions.• Hidden hotel costs can be a source of frustration to the frugal traveler.

From Longman Business Dictionary

frugalfru·gal /ˈfruːgəl/ adjectiveadj

careful to buy only what is necessary

The pay settlement must be frugal in order to avoid layoffs.

People who rely on the basic retirement pension must live a frugal existence.

We’re having to be very frugal with our training budget this year.

—frugality noun [uncountableU]

Most departments were being told to cut spending and practise frugality again this year.

—frugally adverbadv

If you want to retire young, you’ll have to live frugally and invest wisely.

Origin frugal

(1500-1600) French Latin frux “fruit, value”