economical
ee-kuh-NOM-ih-kuhl
Economical (adj) means Careful with money or resources; not wasteful. Example: “She's always been economical, saving a little from every paycheck.”
adj
1
Careful with money or resources; not wasteful.
"She's always been economical, saving a little from every paycheck."
"My grandfather was economical and never threw away anything that still worked."
"We try to be economical with water during the dry summer months."
2
Efficient in the use of money, materials, or effort; good value.
"This car is far more economical on fuel than our old one."
"The recipe is a good, economical way to feed a large family."
"Buying vegetables in bulk is a more economical choice than shopping every day."
How to use economical
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishNot wasteful — either a person who's careful with money, or a thing that offers good value for what it costs.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "economic," which relates to the economy in general rather than personal thriftiness.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
economical car
economical use of
economical with the truth
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more economical
- Superlative
- most economical
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She's always been _____, saving a little from every paycheck.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for economical
See all rhymes for economical →Frequently asked questions
What does “economical” mean?
The word “economical” means careful with money or resources; not wasteful. In plain terms, not wasteful — either a person who's careful with money, or a thing that offers good value for what it costs.
How do you pronounce “economical”?
“Economical” is pronounced ee-kuh-NOM-ih-kuhl (/ˌɛk.əˈnɑ.mɪ.kəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “economical” in a sentence?
Here is “economical” used in a sentence: “She's always been economical, saving a little from every paycheck.”
What part of speech is “economical”?
“Economical” is an adjective.
Is “economical” a common word?
“Economical” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “economical” have?
“Economical” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: careful with money or resources; not wasteful.
What's the difference between economical and cheap?
Economical describes something that offers good value or an efficient use of money and resources, while cheap often implies a low price at the expense of quality. A product can be cheap without being economical if it wears out quickly and needs frequent replacement.
What's the difference between economical and economic?
Economical describes being careful with money or resources and getting good value, while economic relates more broadly to the economy or the subject of economics, as in "economic policy." The two spellings are commonly confused but serve different grammatical roles.
Can "economical" describe things other than money?
Yes, economical can describe efficient use of materials, effort, or time as well as money, such as an "economical writing style" that conveys meaning with few words. This broader sense emphasizes efficiency and avoiding waste generally.
