Definition of "prodigal"

prodigal

/ˈpɹɒdɪɡəl/

adjective
comparative more prodigal, superlative most prodigal
1. Wastefully extravagant.
  Quotations
  The prodigal heir can only waste his own substance, and the punishment falls, as it should, upon himself; but the prince has an awful responsibility,—the welfare of others is required at his hands;...
  1834, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], chapter XXIII, in Francesca Carrara. […], volume II, London: Richard Bentley, […], (successor to Henry Colburn), page 257
2. (often followed by of or with) Yielding profusely, lavish.
  Quotations
  He generally falls backwards and sometimes succumbs to the fever which ensues; hence as soon as the ordeal is over the women are prodigal of their attentions to him, and rub the swollen arm with a particular kind of herb.
  1911, James George Frazer, The Golden Bough, volume 10, page 63
  Granville poised himself over a vast sirloin, stropped his knife briskly, then began to hack away ruthlessly. He was a prodigal server and piled about two pounds of meat on my plate, then he started on the Yorkshire puddings.
  1974, James Herriot, Vet in Harness, page 201
3. Profuse, lavishly abundant.
4. (by allusion to the New Testament story commonly called "The Parable of the Prodigal Son", Luke 15:11–32) Behaving as a prodigal son:
  1. Having (selfishly) abandoned a person, group, or ideal.
  2. Returning or having returned, especially repentantly, after such an abandonment.
    Quotations
    Simon Hart of the Daily Telegraph has tweeted that the prodigal triple-jumper has come home, in preparation for tomorrow's qualification round.
    2012 August 12, Paul Owen, “London 2012 Olympics: day 10”, in The Guardian‎
noun
plural prodigals
1. A prodigal person; a spendthrift; a wastrel.