parsimony

par·si·mo·ny

noun \ˈpär-sə-ˌmō-nē\

Definition of PARSIMONY

1

a : the quality of being careful with money or resources : thrift

b : the quality or state of being stingy

2

: economy in the use of means to an end; especially : economy of explanation in conformity with Occam's razor

Examples of PARSIMONY

1. The charity was surprised by the parsimony of some larger corporations.
2. <her parsimony was so extreme that she'd walk five miles to the store to save a few cents on gas>

Origin of PARSIMONY

Middle English parcimony, from Latin parsimonia, from parsus, past participle of parcere to spare

First Known Use: 15th century

Related to PARSIMONY

Synonyms

cheapness, cheeseparing, closeness, miserliness, niggardliness, penny-pinching, penuriousness, pinching, stinginess, tightfistedness, tightness

Antonyms

diseconomy, wastefulness

Related Words

conserving, economizing, economy, frugality, husbandry, providence, scrimping, skimping, thrift; conservation, saving; husbanding, managing

Near Antonyms

bountifulness, bounty, generosity, largesse (also largess), liberality, openhandedness, openheartedness, philanthropy, unselfishness; extravagance, lavishness; dissipation, improvidence, prodigality, squandering, wastefulness

Rhymes with PARSIMONY

abalone, acrimony, agrimony, Albinoni, alimony, antimony, Berlusconi, cannelloni, ceremony, chalcedony, cicerone, hegemony, macaroni, matrimony, minestrone, Nakasone, one-trick pony, palimony, patrimony, pepperoni, provolone, rigatoni, sanctimony, Shetland pony, testimony, zabaglione