thrift

1 of 2

noun

ˈthrift 

plural thrifts

1

: careful management especially of money

2

: a savings bank or savings and loan association

called also thrift institution

3

: healthy and vigorous growth

4

chiefly Scotland : gainful occupation

5

: any of a genus (Armeria) of low-growing perennial evergreen herbs of the plumbago family

especially : a tufted herb (A. maritima) with pink or white flower heads

thrift

2 of 2

verb

thrifted; thrifting; thrifts

transitive + intransitive

: to shop for or buy used goods especially at a store that specializes in secondhand merchandise

''My theory is whether you have the money to pay full price or not, why wouldn't you want to get more bang for your fashion buck?'' said Quincy Colman, 41, an habitué of Goodwill, who started thrifting when she was a teenager.

—Patrice J. Williams

"Gen-Z is also very much interested in secondhand shopping. It is intentional and cool to thrift now, whereas in the 1960s and 1970s it was considered counterculture."

—Allison Pfingst

"But I didn't end up buying the hot $200 dress. … Instead, I thrifted a jumpsuit."

—Laura McMullen

Synonyms of thrift

Noun

• saving
• economy
• frugality

Examples of thrift in a Sentence

Noun

Through hard work and thrift they sent all of their children to college.

through hard work and thrift our father was able to raise the money to put all four of us through college

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Take advantage of the steep discount and snag them at the thrift store instead of a big retailer. —Alexandra Kelly, Martha Stewart, 17 Feb. 2026

Outdated Electronics Some electronics are ideal for donating to thrift stores or re-use centers. —Kate McKenna, The Spruce, 15 Feb. 2026

Verb

Instead of donating the items to thrift stores, consider contacting local parenting groups or shelters to find a family willing to accept newer models that haven’t been recalled. —Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Feb. 2026

Cleaning Caddies As long as it isn’t broken or cracked, cleaning caddies are perfect to thrift at a fraction of the price of a new one. —Alexandra Kelly, Martha Stewart, 17 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old Norse, prosperity, from thrīfask to thrive

Verb

derivative of thrift entry 1 (from its attributive use in thrift shop)

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Verb

1983, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing thrift

• thrift shop

Rhymes for thrift

• clift
• drift
• gift
• lift
• miffed
• rift
• shift
• shrift
• sift
• sniffed
• tift
• adrift

Kids Definition

thrift

noun

ˈthrift 

: careful management especially of money

Legal Definition

thrift

noun

: an institution that promotes saving and provides mortgages

especially : savings and loan association

called also thrift institution