Words / C2

PROD-igl/ˈprɒdɪɡl/

Prodigal means wastefully generous with money or resources: prodigal spending. Wasteful is everyday; lavish can be praise or blame; extravagant is a close synonym. The prodigal son is the biblical story of waste and return — that association still colours the word. Prodigality is the noun. In speech, wastefully lavish is enough. It is not a synonym for prodigious (remarkably great).

Meaning

Wastefully generous with money or resources.

Examples

• “Prodigal spending left nothing for rent.”
• “Prodigal use of colour printing emptied the faculty budget by March.”
• “She was prodigal with praise and mean with actual time.”

Good to know

Wastefully lavish. Everyday: wasteful. Close: extravagant. Noun: prodigality. Biblical echo: prodigal son. Not prodigious (huge/impressive).

Near in meaning

extravagant

New