What does parsimonious mean?
Parsimonious means unwilling to spend money, use resources, or give generously. It is more formal than the everyday word stingy and often suggests excessive caution or reluctance to part with something valuable. The word can also have a less negative meaning: a parsimonious design, style, or approach may use only what is necessary, favoring economy and restraint rather than extravagance. For example, a parsimonious editor might remove every redundant sentence, while a parsimonious employer might resist paying a contractor fairly. Because its implication can vary, context is important: describing someone's thrift as parsimonious usually conveys criticism, whereas describing a technique as parsimonious may praise its precision and economy. The word is useful when a more precise alternative to stingy is wanted, though its formal tone makes it less common in casual speech.
adjectiveUnwilling to spend money, use resources, or give generously; stingy or miserly. It can also describe an approach or style that is economical, restrained, or deliberately minimal.
- Unwilling to spend money, use resources, or give generously; stingy or miserly.
- Characterized by economy, restraint, or minimalism, especially in the use of words, materials, or resources.
"The parsimonious editor cut every unnecessary phrase from the manuscript."
"The landlord was parsimonious with heat, keeping the old building uncomfortably cold."
"Her parsimonious style reduced a complex argument to a single striking image."
Parsimonious is the formal face of stingy: it comes from Latin parsimonia, a word rooted in the idea of sparing.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does parsimonious come from?
Parsimonious comes from the Latin adjective parsimoniosus, meaning thrifty or sparing, which was derived from parsimonia, “frugality” or “economy.” The Latin noun traces to the idea of sparing or withholding, and the English word entered use in the early 17th century. Its close English relative is parsimony, while ceremonious and harmonious belong to the same Latin formation ending in -onius.
Related word forms
How parsimonious is actually used
A formal word that commonly carries a mildly negative or disapproving connotation, especially when it describes a person's attitude toward money. In some contexts it can be approving, meaning efficiently economical rather than merely stingy.
Easily confused with parsimonious
Frugal generally praises careful economy, whereas parsimonious often suggests excessive reluctance to spend or share.