spendthrift
spend·thrift/ˈspɛn(d)ˌθɹɪft/adjective, noun
spendthrift is spelled S-P-E-N-D-T-H-R-I-F-T: 11 letters and 2 syllables (spend·thrift). It appears about once in every 6 million words in written English, the 72,332nd most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As an adjective, spendthrift means “Improvident, profligate, or wasteful” (English Wiktionary, September 2026).
How many letters and syllables are in spendthrift?
| Letters | 11: S-P-E-N-D-T-H-R-I-F-T |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 2: spend·thrift |
| In writing | about once in every 6 million words; the 72,332nd most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How common is spendthrift?
Spendthrift appears about once in every 6 million words in written English, the 72,332nd most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce spendthrift?
- UK /ˈspɛn(d)θɹɪft/
- US /ˈspɛn(d)ˌθɹɪft/
Spendthrift has 2 syllables, split spend·thrift in writing.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: En-au-spendthrift.ogg, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
Forms of spendthrift
- more spendthrift comparative
- most spendthrift superlative
- spendthrifts plural
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does spendthrift mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
adjective
- 1
Improvident, profligate, or wasteful.
- 2
Extravagant or lavish.
noun
- 1
Someone who spends money improvidently or wastefully.
- 2
Anything that distributes its attributes profusely, without restraint.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Spendthrift in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | dépensier, prodigue , gaspilleur |
| German | verschwenderisch , Verschwender, Verschwenderin, Prasser, Prasserin |
| Portuguese | gastador , gastadora, gastadeira |
| Spanish | pródigo, manirroto , gastador, gastadora |
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.
Where does spendthrift come from?
From spend + thrift (“(archaic) savings; profits; wealth”).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).