Today, frugal is used to describe things that reflect a fastidious dedication to foregoing the fancy, as in “he insists on a frugal diet of fungi and fava beans.”

FRUGAL definition: economical in use or expenditure; prudently saving or sparing; not wasteful. See examples of frugal used in a sentence.

FRUGAL definition: 1. careful when using money or food, or (of a meal) cheap or small in amount: 2. careful when…. Learn more.

A frugal meal is small and not expensive. The diet was frugal: cheese and water, rice and beans.

Definition of frugal adjective in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

Jan 18, 2026 · frugal (comparative more frugal, superlative most frugal) Of something which is consumed (such as money, goods, etc.): Careful or wise in expenditure; avoiding waste.

Nov 30, 2023 · Frugal people prioritize spending money on things that add value to their life, and they avoid using money for what they don’t consider important. Those who are frugal recognize the value …

frugal, adj. meanings, etymology, pronunciation and more in the Oxford English Dictionary

Frugal definition: Practicing or marked by economy, as in the expenditure of money or the use of material resources.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025 fru•gal (fro̅o̅′ gəl), adj. economical in use or expenditure; prudently saving or sparing; not wasteful: a frugal manager. …