prodigality

Prodigality refers to the habit or practice of spending resources—money, time, or goods—in an extravagant or wasteful manner. It denotes excess without prudent consideration of consequences and is often associated with a lack of restraint or foresight. The term stems from the Latin prodigus, meaning wasteful, via Old French prodigue.

Prodigality is related to extravagance and wastefulness but is not identical to generosity. Generosity may involve lavish giving, but prodigality implies imprudent expenditure or depletion of resources. In moral, religious, and economic discourse, prodigality is usually viewed negatively, though some writers portray abundance or risk-taking as a valued, if controversial, trait.

In religious literature, the Parable of the Prodigal Son in the Gospel of Luke presents prodigality as a squandered inheritance followed by repentance and reconciliation. In broader literature, prodigality figures as a trait of spendthrift characters or as a critique of courtly or political extravagance.

In contemporary usage, prodigality is less common as a technical term and is often replaced by “extravagance” or “wastefulness.” When used, it typically appears in moral, historical, or theological contexts or in discussions of public policy and philanthropy, where concerns center on prudent allocation of resources.