What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
economical
Example
She's very economical and always finds ways to save money. [economical: adjective]
Example
Buying in bulk is an economical way to save money on groceries. [economical: adjective]
thrifty
Example
My grandmother is very thrifty and always finds ways to reuse things. [thrifty: adjective]
Example
We try to live a thrifty lifestyle by buying second-hand items and avoiding unnecessary expenses. [thrifty: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Economical is more commonly used than thrifty in everyday language. Economical is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while thrifty is less common and more specific to financial matters.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between economical and thrifty?
Economical is more formal than thrifty, which is often used in informal contexts. However, both words can be used in various formality levels depending on the context.