economic
ee-kuh-NO-mihk
Economic (adj) means relating to money, trade, industry, or the management of an economy. Example: “The government announced new economic measures to fight inflation.”
adj
1
Relating to money, trade, industry, or the management of an economy.
"The government announced new economic measures to fight inflation."
"Economic growth slowed sharply after the crisis."
"The town's economic future depends on tourism and small local businesses."
2
Profitable, or representing reasonable value for the cost involved.
"It wasn't economic to keep the factory running at half capacity."
"Growing your own vegetables is only economic if you have plenty of free time."
"The council decided the old bus route was no longer economic to run."
How to use economic
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo do with money, trade, and how a country or business manages its resources.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "economical," which means thrifty or good value — "economic policy" is about the economy, while "an economical car" is one that's cheap to run.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
economic growth
economic policy
economic downturn
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Word forms
- Plural
- economics
- Comparative
- more economic
- Superlative
- most economic
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The government announced new _____ measures to fight inflation.
Etymology
Ultimately from Greek oikonomikós, "skilled in household management," from oîkos ("house") plus nómos ("law" or "management") — the same root gave us "economy."
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for economic
See all rhymes for economic →Frequently asked questions
What does “economic” mean?
The word “economic” means relating to money, trade, industry, or the management of an economy. In plain terms, to do with money, trade, and how a country or business manages its resources.
How do you pronounce “economic”?
“Economic” is pronounced ee-kuh-NO-mihk (/ˌɛkəˈnɑmɪk/ in IPA).
How do you use “economic” in a sentence?
Here is “economic” used in a sentence: “The government announced new economic measures to fight inflation.”
What part of speech is “economic”?
“Economic” is an adjective.
Where does the word “economic” come from?
The word “economic” comes from Greek. Ultimately from Greek oikonomikós, "skilled in household management," from oîkos ("house") plus nómos ("law" or "management") — the same root gave us "economy.".
Is “economic” a common word?
“Economic” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “economic” have?
“Economic” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: relating to money, trade, industry, or the management of an economy.
What is the difference between economic and economical?
Economic relates to the economy — trade, industry, and money on a large scale, as in "economic growth." Economical means thrifty or good value, saving money or resources, as in "an economical car." A country pursues economic policy; a shopper makes an economical choice. The endings look alike but the meanings differ sharply.
What is the difference between economic and financial?
Economic refers to the broad system of production, trade, and wealth across a society. Financial is narrower, dealing specifically with money, funds, and investments. An economic crisis affects the whole economy, while a financial problem may trouble a single company or household. The two overlap but operate at different scales.
What does economic mean in everyday use?
In everyday use, economic describes anything to do with how money, goods, and work are organised — jobs, prices, trade, taxes, and national wealth. News of "economic conditions" or an "economic downturn" refers to the overall health of the economy rather than one person's budget, which would be a financial or personal matter.
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