cheapskate: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Informal, slightly pejorative
Quick answer
What does “cheapskate” mean?
A person who is unwilling to spend money.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person who is unwilling to spend money; someone who is excessively frugal or stingy, especially when it negatively affects others.
More broadly, someone who avoids spending money on necessary or reasonable things, often to the point of being socially inconsiderate or damaging relationships. Can also imply a person who seeks the lowest price without regard for quality or fairness.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. Both varieties use the term with identical semantic scope. The spelling and pronunciation are consistent.
Connotations
Equally negative in both dialects. Possibly slightly more common in American English, but well-established in British usage.
Frequency
Common in both varieties. Slightly higher frequency in spoken, informal American English.
Grammar
How to Use “cheapskate” in a Sentence
[Subject] is a cheapskate.Don't be such a cheapskate.He's been called a cheapskate.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “cheapskate” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- No standard verb form.
American English
- No standard verb form.
adverb
British English
- No standard adverb form.
American English
- No standard adverb form.
adjective
British English
- No standard adjective form. Use 'cheap' or 'stingy'.
American English
- No standard adjective form. Use 'cheap' or 'stingy'.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare in formal business writing. Might be used informally to describe a client who refuses to pay fair prices or a boss who cuts corners on employee benefits.
Academic
Not used in academic discourse.
Everyday
Primary context. Used in conversation to complain about someone's stingy behaviour, e.g., splitting a restaurant bill unfairly.
Technical
Not used.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “cheapskate”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “cheapskate”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cheapskate”
- *He is very cheapskate. (Incorrect: it's a noun, not an adjective. Correct: He is a cheapskate / He is very cheap.)
- Confusing with 'cheap' (adjective).
- Using in formal writing.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is always an insult. It implies selfish, excessive, or socially unacceptable stinginess.
'Frugal' is a positive or neutral term for being careful with money. A 'cheapskate' is negatively frugal, often at the expense of others' comfort or social norms.
Yes, it is very common in informal spoken English, though it is considered slightly old-fashioned by some younger speakers.
The origin is uncertain. It first appeared in late 19th century American English. 'Cheap' is clear, but 'skate' is likely a derogatory slang term for a person (like a 'louse' or 'contemptible fellow'), possibly from the fish or from the Dutch/Frisian 'schaats' (skate, leg).
A person who is unwilling to spend money.
Cheapskate is usually informal, slightly pejorative in register.
Cheapskate: in British English it is pronounced /ˈtʃiːpskeɪt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈtʃiːpskeɪt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “As tight as a drum (similar concept)”
- “Wouldn't give you the time of day”
- “Pinching pennies until they scream”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a SKATE (the fish) that is so CHEAP it won't even buy water for its own tank. A cheap skate.
Conceptual Metaphor
MONEY IS A LIQUID / RESOURCE: A cheapskate is seen as having a blocked flow of this resource. PERSON IS A CONTAINER: The meanness is an inherent, unchanging trait.
Practice
Quiz
In which situation is someone MOST LIKELY to be called a cheapskate?