Words About Money: Definitions and Examples

Words about Money

251. AFFLUENT – wealthy, having an abundance of money. We laughed at our teacher’s statement that she was fluent in French and affluent in China, where the U.S. dollar can buy a lot.

252. AVARICE – greed, desire to get something. Scrooge McDuck is noted for his avarice; he is always scheming to get even more money.

253. CUPIDITY – greed for gain, inordinate desire to appropriate another’s wealth or possessions. We were astounded by the cupidity of the woman who compromised her integrity and reputation just for the sake of getting more money.

254. DESTITUTE – without resources, in poverty. The treasure hunter bemoaned the fact that the sunken ship he spent millions to find had been transporting worthless musical instruments, leaving the searcher more destitute than he was before he began his quest.

255. FISCAL – pertaining to money. The fiscal year, also known as the bookkeeper’s year, goes from July 1 to June 30.

256. FRUGAL – economical, careful in the use of goods. Frugal is the politically correct way of calling someone cheap.

257. IMPECUNIOUS – poor, penniless. The impecunious student was not able to afford a math tutor and flunked Calculus class.

258. INDIGENT – poor, needy. Realizing that there were many indigent people downtown, the charity opened up a branch soup kitchen and emergency shelter.

259. MENDICANT – a beggar. Every day when he passed the mendicant on the sidewalk, Mr. Walker would give the man a dollar and ask him how he was doing that day.

260. MERCENARY – serving merely for pay. Timothy was so mercenary that he would do anything for a dollar, even betray his buddies by telling the gossip reporter which football players had broken curfew the night before the match.

261. MISERLY – stingy, hoarding wealth. If your parent is miserly when it comes to your allowance, you’re miserable because you don’t have enough money.

262. MUNIFICENT – splendidly generous. “Sure, I like his munificent gifts,” sighed the young woman married to the rich older man, “but I wish he’d also give me the gift of his company.”

263. OPULENT – rich, wealthy, affluent. The opulent lifestyle of the yuppie couple showed they didn’t mind spending their money on themselves, spoiling themselves with expensive cars and clothes.

264. PARSIMONIOUS – stingy, sparing. When I was young and my folks refused to give me money, I threatened to write an expose of their cheapness and title it “The Parsimonious Parents.”

265. PARVENU – a person of humble origins who has gained wealth and position and risen in society, especially one considered unfit for the position (an upstart). The elderly professor scoffed at the parvenu in plaid pants and a beanie, telling him that even though he had made millions designing computer games, he was not going to be welcomed into their sedate golf club.

266. PLUTOCRAT – a person exercising power or influence over others by right of wealth or position. We recognized that the club was controlled by a few plutocrats who had been in charge for years, and whom no mere nouveau rich member ever challenged.

267. PRODIGAL – recklessly wasteful, extravagant. The prodigal son in the Bible spent all his money and had to go home to his father because he was broke.

268. PROFLIGATE – recklessly extravagant; someone who has abandoned himself to vice or indulgence. Knowing how profligate Amy is, her parents don’t put more than a few dollars in her checking account at any time.

269. SOLVENT – able to pay one’s debts, financially sound. After my grandfather gave me a hundred dollars as a graduation gift, I was solvent and finally able to pay back all the friends who had loaned me money.

270. SQUANDER – spend recklessly, use in a wasteful manner. If I had a million dollars, I would squander it all on fishing trips, even if I did nothing but sit on deck and talk about the big ones that got away.