parsimony

[ pahr-suh-moh-nee ]

noun

1. extreme or excessive economy or frugality; stinginess; miserliness.

parsimony

/ ˌpɑːsɪˈməʊnɪəs; ˈpɑːsɪmənɪ /

noun

1. extreme care or reluctance in spending; frugality; niggardliness

Derived Forms

• parsimonious, adjective
• ˌparsiˈmoniously, adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of parsimony¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English parcimony, from Latin parsimōnia, parcimōnia “frugality, thrift,” equivalent to parsi- (combining form of parsus, past participle of parcere “to economize”) or parci- (combining form of parcus “sparing”) + -mōnia -mony

Word History and Origins

Origin of parsimony¹

C15: from Latin parcimōnia, from parcere to spare

Example Sentences

Or perhaps Goya is taking a small liberty, presenting parsimony in a sly juxtaposition to all that flashy gold embroidery, royal hardware and silk.

From Los Angeles Times

But if there is one way to offset parsimony, it’s with development.

From Seattle Times

The very notion of saving one’s boiling water speaks of Dickensian poverty or Depression-era parsimony, like adding sawdust to fill out bread, and our future food historians might be excused for hypothesizing that our recent obsession with pasta water is borne out of hardship rather than out of the rarefied world of fine dining chefs and aspirational cooking magazines.

From Seattle Times

China's battered property market, lingering worries over job stability, and government parsimony in wages, pensions and medical benefits are keeping shoppers cautious.

From Reuters

Some members of Congress from both parties seem inclined to pick “now” and “Ukraine” as the time and place to practice parsimony.

From Washington Post