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

• economizing
• frugal
• provident
• scrimping
• sparing
• thrifty

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

Although the upfront cost may be higher than a monthly subscription, the lifetime license makes Office 2021 a more economical choice in the long run. Don't miss this budget-friendly productivity solution while the price has dropped. —New Atlas, 30 Oct. 2024

This moment is so effective because Ford is so economical with his emotions. —Jen Chaney, Vulture, 18 Oct. 2024

While cloud services can be economical, many companies are surprised by expenses related to data transfer and storage and other services. —Expert Panel®, Forbes, 8 Oct. 2024

Addressing these in the design phase was far more economical than implementing changes post-launch. —Tina Gada, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2024

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

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