What does profligate mean?
Profligate is an English adjective and noun with strong moral overtones, as well as a rare verb meaning to squander. As an adjective, it describes people whose conduct is recklessly extravagant or who live in an unrestrained, dissolute way. It is stronger and more censorious than merely wasteful: calling someone profligate suggests not only that they spend irresponsibly but often that they lead a disorderly or immoral life. As a noun, a profligate is a person marked by such behaviour. The verb profligate, now largely archaic or literary, means to waste or squander money or resources. In modern use, the adjective is much more common than the noun, and both forms generally require context to distinguish financial extravagance from sexual or social dissipation. The word is not region-specific in standard English, though its emphatic tone can sound especially formal or rhetorical. Profligate remains useful because it combines moral judgment with the idea of excess, capturing a form of misconduct that neutral terms such as “wasteful” may not convey.
Characterized by reckless extravagance, wasteful conduct, or dissolute behaviour.
"The politician was criticized for his profligate use of public funds."
Strongly disapproving; financial use and moral or social use both occur.
A person who spends recklessly or behaves dissolutely.
"The novel portrays the young aristocrat as a profligate who rejects every social restraint."
The noun is less common than the adjective and retains a strongly condemnatory tone.
To squander or waste, especially money or other resources.
"He profligated his inheritance on an extravagant and ultimately unsuccessful career."
Archaic or literary in present-day English.
The plural is used for multiple people characterized as profligate.
"The novel contrasts the disciplined sisters with two profligates who squander their inheritance."
From a Latin word for being “dashed to the ground,” profligate grew into a sharp verdict on both wasted money and wasted lives.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does profligate come from?
Profligate entered English in the early 17th century from Latin profligātus, “wretched” or “dissipated,” the past participle of profligāre, “to dash or drive down.” The Latin verb combines pro-, meaning “down,” with fligere, “to strike”; the latter element also underlies English words such as inflict, afflict, and conflict. In English, the word developed from its Latin sense of being cast down or ruined into the modern senses of wasteful extravagance and dissolute behaviour.
Related word forms
How profligate is actually used
The adjective and noun are strongly condemnatory. In modern standard English, profligate is not regionally restricted, although it can sound especially formal or rhetorical. The verb is archaic or literary.
Easily confused with profligate
Prodigal means wasteful or recklessly extravagant, whereas profligate carries a stronger implication of moral excess and can also suggest dissolute behaviour.