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Definition of profligate - 3 dictionary results

prof⋅li⋅gate

  [prof-li-git, -geyt]
Use profligate in a Sentence
–adjective
1. utterly and shamelessly immoral or dissipated; thoroughly dissolute.
2. recklessly prodigal or extravagant.
–noun
3. a profligate person.
Origin:
1525–35; < L prōflīgātus broken down in character, degraded, orig. ptp. of prōflīgāre to shatter, debase, equiv. to prō- pro- 1 + -flīgāre, deriv. of flīgere to strike; see inflict, -ate 1

Related forms:
prof⋅li⋅gate⋅ly, adverb
prof⋅li⋅gate⋅ness, noun

Synonyms:
1. abandoned, licentious.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To profligate
prof·li·gate   (prŏf'lĭ-gĭt, -gāt')   
adj.  

  1. Given over to dissipation; dissolute.

  2. Recklessly wasteful; wildly extravagant.

n.  A profligate person; a wastrel.

[Latin prōflīgātus, past participle of prōflīgāre, to ruin, cast down : prō-, forward; see pro-1 + -flīgāre, intensive of flīgere, to strike down.]
prof'li·ga·cy (-gə-sē) n., prof'li·gate·ly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

profligate 
1526, "overthrown" (implied in profligation), from L. profligatus "destroyed, dissolute," pp. of profligare "to cast down, defeat, ruin," from pro- "down, forth" + fligere "to strike" (see afflict). Meaning "recklessly extravagant" is 1779, via notion of "ruined by vice" (1647).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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