penny-pincher
|pen-ny-pinch-er|
🇺🇸
/ˈpɛniˌpɪntʃər/
🇬🇧
/ˈpɛniˌpɪntʃə/
someone who tightly controls spending
Etymology
'penny-pincher' originates from English, formed from 'penny' + 'pincher' (agent suffix '-er' from the verb 'pinch'), where 'penny' meant 'a small coin' and 'pinch' meant 'to squeeze; to be sparing.'
'pinch pennies' (to be very frugal) developed in English; this yielded 'penny-pinching' (19th c.) and eventually the agent noun 'penny-pincher' (early 20th c., especially in American English).
Initially, it meant 'a person who pinches pennies (is extremely frugal),' and it has largely retained this meaning, often carrying a mildly negative connotation of stinginess in modern usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a person who is extremely careful with money and avoids unnecessary spending; very frugal.
As a penny-pincher, she tracks every expense before making a purchase.
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Noun 2
a stingy or ungenerous person who hates to spend money.
He's such a penny-pincher that he refuses to tip at restaurants.
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Last updated: 2025/08/10 11:07