'thrift-shopper' originates from English, specifically the compound of 'thrift' and 'shopper', where 'thrift' originally referred to 'prosperity' or 'savings' and 'shopper' meant 'a person who goes to shops.'

'thrift' comes from Old English/Old Norse roots (Old English/Old Norse 'þrif'/'þrift') meaning 'prosperity' or 'success'; 'shop' derives from Old English words for a booth or stall, and 'shopper' is formed in Modern English by adding the agent suffix '-er' to 'shop'. The compound 'thrift-shop' (meaning a store selling secondhand goods, often for charity) arose in the early 20th century, and 'thrift-shopper' developed to describe its customers.

Initially, 'thrift' meant 'prosperity' or 'good fortune'; over time its sense shifted toward 'frugality' or 'economical behaviour', and 'thrift-shopper' specifically denotes someone who purchases secondhand or low-cost goods.