Word of the Day

: January 9, 2012

spendthrift

noun SPEND-thrift

What It Means

: a person who spends improvidently or wastefully

spendthrift in Context

David complained that his eldest son was quite the spendthrift, and was always writing home from college requesting more money.

"Perhaps you remember a column I wrote two years ago about Spendthrifts and Tightwads. Spendthrifts experience little pain when they buy things. Tightwads find spending money to be quite difficult. They are more inclined to regret a purchase afterward." -- From an article by Brent Hunsberger in The Oregonian, September 17, 2011

Did You Know?

One sense of "thrift" is "careful management especially of money," and "spendthrift" was coined in the late 16th century to refer to someone who recklessly flouts such efforts. Synonyms of "spendthrift" include "prodigal," "waster," and "wastrel." "Prodigal" also has the suggestion of such enthusiastic waste that it would deplete even the most lavish resources, whereas both "waster" and "wastrel" imply that in addition to wastefulness, the person has such dramatic character flaws as to be a good-for-nothing and a drain upon the community.