What does thrift mean?
Thrift is the careful and economical use of money, time, or other resources. It describes a habit of avoiding waste and unnecessary expenditure, especially when such restraint produces practical benefits: a household may use thrift to save for the future, while a business may rely on it to control costs. The word often carries a positive connotation because thrift can suggest discipline, prudence, and respect for what one has. Depending on context, however, it can imply an excessive or miserly attitude toward spending. Thrift also names a low-growing coastal plant, commonly called sea thrift, that forms dense patches on rocky shores. Its history is especially memorable: the word originally referred to thriving or prosperity, so its modern sense developed from the association between careful management and material success. The closely related verb thrive preserves the word's older idea of flourishing. Thrift is therefore useful not only as a synonym for frugality but also as a term that joins economic prudence with the older language of growth and prosperity.
nounCareful and economical use of money or other resources, especially through the avoidance of waste or unnecessary expenditure. The word can also denote the sea thrift, a low-growing coastal plant with dense clusters of small flowers.
- Careful, economical use of money or resources; the avoidance of waste or extravagance.
- The sea thrift, a compact perennial plant that grows in rocky coastal habitats.
"Her thrift turned a modest income into a secure retirement."
"By exercising thrift, the family paid off its mortgage several years early."
"Sea thrift carpets the exposed rocks along much of the coastline."
The plural is uncommon because thrift is normally used as an uncountable noun.
"The biographies contrast their early thrifts with later extravagance."
Thrift once meant thriving: the word originally expressed prosperity before its familiar sense of careful spending took hold.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does thrift come from?
Thrift comes through Middle English from an Old English word associated with thriving, flourishing, or prosperity. The word's modern sense of economical use developed as careful saving came to be understood as a means of achieving and preserving prosperity. The same Germanic root also lies behind thrive, while thrivance preserves a related idea of flourishing or success.
Related word forms
How thrift is actually used
The noun is usually uncountable and is generally approving when it denotes sensible economy, although it can become critical when thrift suggests miserliness or excessive concern with saving. In the botanical sense, thrift normally appears as sea thrift or another qualifying modifier.
Easily confused with thrift
Thrift is a noun naming economical behavior, while thrive is a verb meaning to grow, prosper, or flourish.