noun
thrift
THRIHFT
noun
1
Careful, economical use of money; avoiding waste.
"Years of thrift meant they could pay off the mortgage early."
"Thrift was drilled into her by parents who lived through hard times."
2
A store that sells secondhand goods donated by the public, often to raise money for charity.
"He found a leather jacket at the thrift for five dollars."
3
A low, cushion-forming coastal plant with pink flowers, also called sea pink.
"Thrift grows in tufts along the cliff edge."
How to Use Thrift
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishBeing careful and sensible with money rather than wasteful.
UK vs US
In the US, "thrift" or "thrift shop" is the everyday term; in the UK, people more often say "charity shop."
Common pairings
thrift store
a life of thrift
thrift and frugality
Word Forms
thrifted past tense, thrifts plural, Thrifts plural, thrifts singular
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Etymology
From Old Norse þrift, "thriving condition" — thrift originally meant prosperity itself, before it narrowed to mean the careful habits that lead to it.