economical

adjective

eco·​nom·​i·​cal ˌe-kə-ˈnä-mi-kəl 

ˌē-kə-

1

: marked by careful, efficient, and prudent use of resources : thrifty

an economical shopper

2

: operating with little waste or at a saving

an economical car

3

archaic : economic sense 5

Synonyms of economical

• economizing
• saving
• frugal
• thrifty
• prudent
• conserving
• provident
• sparing

Choose the Right Synonym for economical

sparing, frugal, thrifty, economical mean careful in the use of one's money or resources.

sparing stresses abstention and restraint.

sparing in the offering of advice

frugal implies absence of luxury and simplicity of lifestyle.

ran a frugal household

thrifty stresses good management and industry.

thrifty use of nonrenewable resources

economical stresses prudent management, lack of wastefulness, and use of things to their best advantage.

an economical health care plan

Examples of economical in a Sentence

an economical way to heat your house

a practical and economical solution to the problem

Recent Examples on the Web

Similarly economical and granularly detailed is a 20-minute sequence in the middle of the film that’s gruesome, comical and crucial to the propulsion of the story. —Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 19 May 2026

Klausmeier is already inside that negotiation, making a bet that clean, economical, and American-made are not three competing priorities. —Afdhel Aziz, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026

Unlike in America, where big cars were cheap and fuel even cheaper, small European streets and even smaller car-buying budgets necessitated vehicles a little more economical in both size and fuel consumption. —Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 15 May 2026

With a bit of searching and ingenuity, though, garden item deals that are economical and comparable to more expensive brands can be found. —Rebecca Jones, Southern Living, 14 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Medieval Latin oeconomicus "relating to domestic affairs, economic" + -al entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Phrases Containing economical

• economical prices

Rhymes for economical

• anatomical
• astronomical
• comical
• neuroanatomical
• uneconomical

Kids Definition

economical

adjective

ec·​o·​nom·​i·​cal

ˌek-ə-ˈnäm-i-kəl, 

ˌē-kə-

1

: using resources with care and without waste

2

: operating with little waste or at a savings

an economical car

economically

-i-k(ə-)lē

adverb