PRODIGAL

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does prodigal mean? 

• PRODIGAL (noun)
  The noun PRODIGAL has 1 sense:

1. a recklessly extravagant consumer

  Familiarity information: PRODIGAL used as a noun is very rare.

• PRODIGAL (adjective)
  The adjective PRODIGAL has 1 sense:

1. recklessly wasteful

  Familiarity information: PRODIGAL used as an adjective is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• PRODIGAL (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A recklessly extravagant consumer

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Synonyms:

prodigal; profligate; squanderer

Hypernyms ("prodigal" is a kind of...):

consumer (a person who uses goods or services)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "prodigal"):

scattergood; spend-all; spender; spendthrift (someone who spends money prodigally)

waster; wastrel (someone who dissipates resources self-indulgently)

Derivation:

prodigal (recklessly wasteful)

• PRODIGAL (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Recklessly wasteful

Synonyms:

extravagant; prodigal; profligate; spendthrift

Context example:

prodigal in their expenditures

Similar:

wasteful (tending to squander and waste)

Derivation:

prodigal (a recklessly extravagant consumer)

prodigality (excessive spending)

prodigality (the trait of spending extravagantly)

 Context examples 

I have not seen my mother this long time, and it lies upon my conscience, for it's something to be loved as she loves her prodigal son.—Bah!

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

She read from the New Testament, and he took keen interest in the prodigal son and the thief on the cross.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

The wicked wolf that for half a day had paralysed London and set all the children in the town shivering in their shoes, was there in a sort of penitent mood, and was received and petted like a sort of vulpine prodigal son.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)