Skip to learning

YOUR VOCABULARY, ONE WORD AT A TIME

prodigal

Adjective

IPA /ˈprɒdɪɡl/

Understand it. Say it. Use it.

UNDERSTAND THE WORD

Meaning in plain English

Spending money or using resources in a wasteful, excessive way.

SAY IT ALOUD

Pronunciation

prodigal/ˈprɒdɪɡl/

PICTURE THE IDEA

See the meaning

Follow the idea
  1. Money is available

  2. Lavish, unnecessary purchases

  3. Too little remains for essentials

Prodigal spending wastes money excessively.

SEE IT IN EVERYDAY ENGLISH

Examples in context

Read the examples aloud. Notice how the word fits the sentence, then think of a situation of your own.

  1. His prodigal spending left little money for the journey home.
  2. The review criticised the project's prodigal use of materials.

MAKE IT STICK

Quick word quiz

Try the question without looking back, then write a sentence of your own. You can retry as often as you like.

Can you recall the word?

Complete the example using the word from this lesson.

His ________ spending left little money for the journey home.
Show the answer

prodigal — Spending money or using resources in a wasteful, excessive way.

Try your own sentence (optional)

Make it yours

Write one sentence using “prodigal” about your own life.

Check your sentence

Does your sentence match this meaning?

Spending money or using resources in a wasteful, excessive way.

Compare: His prodigal spending left little money for the journey home.

Check the spelling and how the word fits the sentence. Your example can be different.

Self-review only. Your sentence is not automatically marked, saved or submitted.

This quiz is for practice. To save lesson completion on this device, complete the checks in the app.

Word origin

From Late Latin prodigalis, related to Latin prodigus, meaning lavish.

Did you know?

Prodigal describes wastefulness; the familiar phrase prodigal son carries an additional story of leaving and returning.

Explore related words

Open a word’s lesson when available, or explore entries that use the related term.

Make the word your own

  1. Say the word aloud and read an example sentence.
  2. Write a new sentence about something familiar to you.
  3. Cover the meaning and try explaining the word in your own words.

Continue with the app’s practice check, then try a sentence of your own to mark this word complete.

Practise this word in the app

Completion and saved words stay in this browser on this device.

Share this word

Save the image or share a link to this word.

@englishskillstudio

prodigal

/ˈprɒdɪɡl/ (Adjective)

“Formal and disapproving in this meaning. Do not use it as a synonym for talented or productive.”

englishskillstudio.com