parsimony
/'pɑ:siməni/
Definition
- Noun:
- Extreme stinginess; extreme care in spending money; reluctance to spend money unnecessarily: The quality of being very unwilling to spend money or use resources.
Usage
The word "parsimony" is a formal noun used to describe an excessive or extreme degree of frugality. It often carries a negative connotation, implying an unreasonable or miserly attitude towards spending. It is commonly used in both economic and general contexts to criticize a lack of generosity.
Examples
- The company's parsimony led to outdated equipment and low employee morale.
- His parsimony was so great that he refused to turn on the heating even in winter.
- Critics accused the government of parsimony in its funding for the arts.
Advanced Usage
- Principle of Parsimony: In scientific and philosophical reasoning, this principle (also called Occam's Razor) states that among competing hypotheses, the one with the fewest assumptions should be selected. Here, "parsimony" refers to simplicity and economy in explanation, not directly to money.
- The biologist applied the principle of parsimony to choose the simplest evolutionary tree.
Variants and Related Words
- Parsimonious (adjective): Unwilling to spend money or use resources; stingy.
- He was so parsimonious that he reused tea bags.
- Parsimoniously (adverb): In a parsimonious manner.
- The budget was allocated parsimoniously.
Synonyms
- Stinginess: Lack of generosity.
- Miserliness: Excessive desire to save money.
- Frugality (can be more neutral or positive): The quality of being economical with resources.
- Penny-pinching: Unwillingness to spend money.
- Tightfistedness: Reluctance to spend or give money.
Antonyms
- Generosity: The quality of being kind and generous.
- Lavishness: Spending or giving in great amounts.
- Prodigality: Extravagant wastefulness.
Idioms and Phrases
- To plead parsimony: To use extreme frugality as an excuse (less common).
- He pleaded parsimony but was really just being selfish.
Noun
-
extreme stinginess
-
extreme care in spending money; reluctance to spend money unnecessarily
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