niggard

C2 Topic:Register & Style

US /ˈnɪɡɚd/ UK /ˈnɪɡəd/ See IPA manual

Freq #112860

Meanings

1

noun
archaic: a person who is extremely unwilling to spend or give; a miser

The landlord was a niggard who begrudged every necessary repair.
2

adj
archaic: miserly, stingy, or grudgingly sparing

The chronicler calls the wealthy prince niggard in charity.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · archaic: a person who is... miser skinflintcheapskate

2 adj · archaic: miserly, stingy,... miserly stingy parsimonious

Opposites

philanthropist generous lavish

Word family

Forms niggardly

Derived forms niggardlyniggardliness

Related forms miser parsimonious stingyhneaw

Etymology

From Middle English nigard or nygard, probably built on an older word for a stingy person and perhaps ultimately Scandinavian; compare Old Norse and modern Scandinavian words meaning 'stingy.' It is etymologically unrelated to the later racial slur that it resembles. Because that resemblance can cause offense or confusion, niggard is now generally avoided outside historical discussion.

Topics

Register & Style

External links

# niggard

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** noun, adj
**IPA (US):** /ˈnɪɡɚd/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈnɪɡəd/
**Frequency rank:** 112860

## Meanings
1. archaic: a person who is extremely unwilling to spend or give; a miser
2. archaic: miserly, stingy, or grudgingly sparing

## Examples
- The landlord was a niggard who begrudged every necessary repair.
- The chronicler calls the wealthy prince niggard in charity.

## Synonyms
- miser
- skinflint
- cheapskate
- miserly
- stingy
- parsimonious

## Antonyms
- philanthropist
- generous
- lavish

## Derived Forms
- niggardly
- niggardliness

## Related Forms
- miser
- parsimonious
- stingy
- hneaw

## Etymology
From Middle English nigard or nygard, probably built on an older word for a stingy person and perhaps ultimately Scandinavian; compare Old Norse and modern Scandinavian words meaning 'stingy.' It is etymologically unrelated to the later racial slur that it resembles. Because that resemblance can cause offense or confusion, niggard is now generally avoided outside historical discussion.

## Topics
- Register & Style

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