What does stinge mean?
A stinge is a person who is notably stingy with money, while to stinge means to behave in a miserly way, particularly by refusing to pay or contribute. The expression is informal and chiefly associated with British and Australian English. Its tone is usually dismissive rather than violently hostile, but it can convey strong disapproval when used of someone who exploits others financially or repeatedly avoids paying their fair share. For example, calling a businessperson a stinge suggests that they are mean with money, while saying that someone refused to stinge implies that they declined to contribute or settle a bill. The word is especially useful in conversational criticism, although formal writing will often prefer miser, skinflint, or stingy.
A person regarded as miserly or unwilling to spend or contribute money.
"Her old aunt was a stinge who never treated us to anything."
Informal and mildly derogatory; chiefly British and Australian.
To behave stingily, especially by refusing to pay or contribute money.
"We all chipped in for the gift, but he refused to stinge."
Informal; often implies that someone is avoiding a fair contribution or expense.
The regular plural of the noun is stinges. As a verb, the third-person singular present is also stinges.
"The office stinges refused to contribute to the retirement fund."
A stinge counts every coin, but a generous host never lets the bill become the evening's main event.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does stinge come from?
Stinge is generally understood to be a 20th-century formation from sting, in the sense of causing pain or exacting money, with influence from the adjective stingy. It belongs to the same semantic family as sting, stinging, and stinginess. Its clipped, informal sound reflects its use as a dismissive label for a miserly person.
Related word forms
How stinge is actually used
The word is informal and usually mildly disparaging. It is most common in British and Australian English and may sound more conversational or blunt than the more formal term miser.
Easily confused with stinge
A sting is the painful sensation or harm caused by a sharp or stinging substance, whereas a stinge is a miserly person or the act of being stingy.