parsimony
UK: ˈpɑːsɪməni | US: ˈpɑːrsɪmoʊni
n. extreme unwillingness to spend money or use resources; frugality to the point of stinginess.
n. (in scientific contexts) the principle of using the simplest possible explanation or method.
parsimony = parsi<spare> + mony<noun suffix>
- parsi (from Latin parsus, past participle of parcere "to spare, save, refrain from")
- mony (noun-forming suffix, from Latin -monia, indicating a state or condition)
Etymology Origin:
The word parsimony traces back to Latin parsimonia, derived from parcere ("to spare"). It originally conveyed thriftiness or restraint, later evolving to emphasize excessive frugality. In science, it adopted the meaning of favoring simplicity in explanations (Occam’s Razor), reflecting the "sparing" of unnecessary assumptions. The morpheme -mony (as in matrimony, testimony) denotes an abstract state, reinforcing the concept of a behavioral trait.
His parsimony was evident when he reused tea bags to save pennies.
The theory was accepted due to its parsimony, requiring fewer variables than alternatives.
Critics accused the government of parsimony in funding education.
Her parsimony extended to refusing to turn on the heating in winter.
Scientists value parsimony when constructing models to avoid overcomplication.