prodigal

/ˈprɑdəgəl/

/ˈprɒdɪgəl/

Other forms: prodigals

Use the adjective prodigal to describe someone who spends too much money, or something very wasteful. Your prodigal spending on fancy coffee drinks might leave you with no money to buy lunch.

Prodigal usually applies to the spending of money. In the Bible, the Prodigal Son leaves home and wastes all his money. The noun forms of the word, meaning "a wasteful person" or "one who returns home after a period of bad behavior," relate to this biblical story. You can also use prodigal to describe something that is very abundant or generous, such as prodigal praise. Prodigal comes from the Latin word prodigere, "to drive away or waste."

Definitions of prodigal

1. adjective

   recklessly wasteful
   “prodigal in their expenditures”

   synonyms: extravagant, profligate, spendthrift

   wasteful

   tending to squander and waste
2. adjective

   giving or having in a lavish, abundant, or bountiful way
3. noun

   a recklessly extravagant person
   synonyms: profligate, squanderer

   types:

   scattergood, spend-all, spender, spendthrift

   someone who spends money prodigally

   waster, wastrel

   someone who dissipates resources self-indulgently

   big spender, high roller

   one who spends lavishly and ostentatiously on entertainment

   type of:

   consumer

   a person who uses goods or services
4. noun

   someone who returns after a long absence characterized by reckless behavior
   type of:

   absentee

   one that is absent or not in residence