What does stingy mean?
“Stingy” is an informal adjective meaning unwilling to spend money, share resources, or give generously. A stingy person may provide only the minimum for visitors, refuse to contribute to a collection, or spend very little on food and comforts. The word can also modify an amount or portion: a stingy serving is noticeably small or insufficient. Its tone is generally critical, although the precise degree of disapproval depends on context. Describing someone as stingy suggests habitual meanness rather than sensible restraint, while “frugal” can carry the more neutral sense of carefully avoiding waste. “Stingy” is widely understood in formal and informal English in both Britain and the United States, though more neutral alternatives are often preferable in formal writing. Its related forms are the adverb “stingily” and the noun “stinginess.”
adjectiveUnwilling to spend or give money; mean. It can also describe something small or insufficient in amount.
- Unwilling to spend money, give generously, or provide something in abundance.
- Small or scanty in amount, such as a stingy portion or allowance.
"The landlord was stingy with the heat, keeping the entire building uncomfortably cold."
"He was too stingy to replace the broken window, even though he could easily afford it."
"The restaurant is famous for its delicious food but stingy portions."
“Stingy” can describe not only a person but also a famously small portion—proof that even a side dish can have a stingy reputation.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does stingy come from?
“Stingy” developed in English during the early modern period in connection with the idea of stinginess or close-fistedness. Its precise origin is uncertain, although its form and meaning are clearly associated with the larger English word family represented by “sting.” The word later became established for both people who give reluctantly and portions or allowances that are conspicuously small.
Related word forms
How stingy is actually used
The word is informal and sometimes regarded as old-fashioned, especially in British English. It can sound more openly judgmental than “frugal” or “careful with money,” whose tone depends more on context.
Easily confused with stingy
“Stingy” means reluctant to give or spend, whereas “stringy” describes something resembling strings or consisting of tough fibres.