English Explanatory Dictionary

prodigal

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. Wastefully extravagant.
  2. Yielding profusely, lavish.
  3. Profuse, lavishly abundant.
  4. Behaving as a prodigal son:
  5. Having (selfishly) abandoned a person, group, or ideal.
  6. Returning or having returned, especially repentantly, after such an abandonment.
noun
  1. A prodigal person; a spendthrift; a wastrel.

Pronunciation

/ˈpɹɒdɪɡəl/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-prodigal.wav /ˈpɹɑdɪɡəl/ [ˈpʰɹɑɾɪɡɫ̩]

Word forms

prodigal more prodigal most prodigal prodigals

Etymology

From Middle French prodigal, from Late Latin prōdigālis (“wasteful”), from Latin prōdigus (“wasteful, lavish, prodigal”), from prōdigō (“to consume, squander, drive forth”), from prōd- [from prō (“before, forward”)] + agō (“to drive”). Also see unrelated prodigy. The senses of "abandoning a person or cause" and "returning after abandonment" are by allusion to the New Testament story commonly called "The Parable of the Prodigal Son", Luke 15:11–32. See prodigal son.

Synonyms

extravagant improvident imprudent lavish loose-handed prodigal profligate reckless spendthrift squandering uneconomical unthrifty wasteful free generous liberal inordinate superabundant abundant abounding ample aplenty brimming copious galore numerous overflowing plenteous plentiful profuse prolific teeming bountiful exuberant uberous largifluous plentevous largifical profluent devilish excessive extreme immoderate intemperate nimious obscene overmuch overweening over the top undue unmeasured unreasonable unrestrained wanton big spender dingthrift neve overspender saprophage scattergood

Antonyms

frugal stingy abstemious canny chary moderate cheap close with a buck economic economical husbandly huswifely parsimonious penny-pinching prudent spareful sparing spary thrifty tight tightwad

Related words

generous

Derived words

prodigalish prodigalism prodigality prodigalize prodigally prodigalness prodigal son unprodigal

Translations

Arabic: مُسْرِف Azerbaijani: bədxərc Azerbaijani: israfcıl Bulgarian: разточителен Bulgarian: прахоснически Catalan: pròdig Czech: marnotratný Dutch: kwistig Finnish: tuhlaavainen French: prodigue German: verschwenderisch Icelandic: hóflaus Icelandic: hóflaust Irish: anaisteach Irish: caifeach Irish: díobhlásach Italian: prodigo Italian: generoso Japanese: 放蕩 Latin: prōdigus Latin: prōdigālis Malay: pemboros Malayalam: ധൂർത്ത Persian: ولخرج Polish: marnotrawny Polish: rozrzutny Portuguese: pródigo Spanish: pródigo Swedish: slösaktig Tagalog: masakmata Turkish: müsrif Turkish: savurgan Welsh: afradlon
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