parsimony

This term carries a strong negative connotation when describing personal behavior, suggesting a level of stinginess that borders on the absurd or oppressive. It differs from frugality or thriftiness, which are generally viewed as virtues of prudence and wisdom; parsimony implies a pathological or excessive avoidance of expenditure regardless of need.

In scientific or philosophical contexts, the word shifts to a neutral or positive value. Here, it refers to the intellectual efficiency of a theory. The law of parsimony dictates that the most economical explanation—the one requiring the fewest assumptions—is typically the most probable, stripping away unnecessary complexity to reach a core truth.