Meaning & Definition of word "Tightwad"

Tightwad

/ˈtaɪt.wɑːd/

noun:

  • 1. A person who is unwilling to spend money; a miser.
    • Example: He's such a tightwad that he won't even buy coffee at work.
  • 2. A person who is overly frugal or stingy.
    • Example: Her tightwad nature means she always looks for coupons before shopping.
  • 3. Someone who hoards money and avoids spending it.
    • Example: His friends often joke that he’s a tightwad because he never treats anyone to dinner.
  • 4. A derogatory term for someone with extreme thriftiness.
    • Example: Don't be such a tightwad; sometimes you have to spend money to enjoy life.

Etymology

The word 'tightwad' combines 'tight', meaning stingy or not willing to part with money, and 'wad', which refers to a lump or mass (of money).

Common Phrases and Expressions

penny-pinching:

Being stingy or reluctant to spend money.

living on a shoestring:

Living with a very small budget.

breaking the bank:

Spending all of one's money, often used in a negative context regarding extravagance.

Related Words

miserly:

Unwilling to spend or share money.

stingy:

Unwilling to give or spend; miserly.

cheap:

Inexpensive, but can imply that someone is unwilling to spend money.

Slang Meanings of tightwad

Meaning: Cheapskate

Example Sentence: He's such a cheapskate; he wouldn't even buy a coffee.

Meaning: Skinflint

Example Sentence: Being a skinflint, she never spends a dime on herself.