scrimp

UK: /ˈskrɪmp/ US: /skrɪmp/ ,(skrimp)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

scrimp /skrɪmp/   v. [no object]

1. to be careful in spending or using (something, as money):
   We shall scrimp and save for retirement.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

scrimp  (skrimp), v.i. 

1. to be sparing or frugal;
   economize (often fol. by on):
   They scrimped and saved for everything they have. He spends most of his money on clothes, and scrimps on food.

v.t. 

2. to be sparing or restrictive of or in;
   limit severely:
   to scrimp food.
3. to keep on short allowance;
   provide sparingly for:
   to scrimp their elderly parents.

• Scandinavian; compare Swedish skrympa, Norwegian, Danish skrumpe (origin, originally *skrimpa, strong verb, verbal) to shrivel, cognate with Middle High German schrimpfen to contract; see shrimp
• 1710–20

Synonyms

• 1. skimp, stint, save, scrape.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

scrimp, skrimp / skrɪmp/ verb

1. when intr, sometimes followed by on: to be very economical or sparing in the use (of) (esp in the phrase scrimp and save)
2. (transitive) to treat meanly: he is scrimping his children

adjective

1. a less common word for scant

Etymology: 18th Century: Scottish, origin unknown

ˈscrimpy adjective

ˈscrimpiness noun