Stingy means unwilling to share or spend money, even when you have plenty. A stingy person holds tight to their resources and resists being generous, even in small ways.

Imagine a classmate who has a full pack of markers but refuses to lend even one, or someone who never contributes their fair share when friends pool money for a gift. That's stinginess. It's different from being careful with money or saving for something important. A stingy person has enough but still won't share.

The word carries a negative feeling because most people value generosity in friendships and communities. When someone consistently acts stingy, people notice. You might hear someone complain that a restaurant gave stingy portions of food, meaning disappointingly small amounts.

The opposite of stingy is generous. There's a difference between someone who thoughtfully manages their resources and someone who refuses to share what they could easily spare.