adj.
- wastefully extravagant.
- lavish.
n.
a prodigal person.
▸
(also prodigal son or daughter)
a person who leaves home to lead a prodigal life but returns repentant.
[with allusion to the parable in Luke 15:11–32.]
Derivative
- prodigality n.
- prodigally adv.
Etymology
ME: from late L. prodigalis, from L. prodigus ‘lavish’.