English vocabulary · C1
Parsimonious
/ˌpɑːrsəˈmoʊniəs/ · adj.
It means being too careful with money, refusing to spend even small amounts.
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Example sentences
- He was so parsimonious he reused his tea bags.
- Her parsimonious habits left guests with nothing.
Word origin and roots
from Latin
- pars — small share (from Latin)
- mon — manage (from Latin)
Synonyms and nuances
- STINGY (refusing to share or spend generously)
- CHEAP (avoiding expense at others' expense)
- FRUGAL (saving money by cutting all waste)
Words with the same root
pars — small share
- sparse — thinly scattered — only a small share present
- parse — to break into parts — to identify each piece by its role
Lesson notes
Parsimonious. It means being too careful with money, refusing to spend even small amounts.
Similar words are stingy, cheap, and frugal. Use parsimonious when someone refuses to spend even tiny amounts.
He was so parsimonious he reused his tea bags. Her parsimonious habits left guests with nothing.
From Latin. Pars means small share. Mon means manage. To manage only a small share: that is parsimonious.