adj
expendable
ihk-SPEHN-duh-buhl
Expendable (adj) means Able to be used up or spent, especially without much concern. Example: “The budget included expendable supplies like paper and ink.”
adj
1
Able to be used up or spent, especially without much concern.
"The budget included expendable supplies like paper and ink."
2
Regarded as not essential and able to be sacrificed or discarded.
"He was expendable, like commodities past their use."
— G. Cajetan Luna, Youths Living with HIV: Self-Evident Truths (1997)
"Oil and other expendable resources are frequently the subject of military disputes."
"In the mission, the soldiers were treated as expendable."
"In the internecine rivalries of large corporations, whole departments may become expendable in the execution of one executive's power play."
How to use expendable
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomething (or someone) that can be used up, discarded, or sacrificed without much loss.
Common pairings
expendable resources
treated as expendable
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Word forms
- Plural
- expendables
- Comparative
- more expendable
- Superlative
- most expendable
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The budget included _____ supplies like paper and ink.
Etymology
From expend + the adjective ending -able.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
unexpendable
Related words
Rhymes for expendable
See all rhymes for expendable →Frequently asked questions
What does “expendable” mean?
The word “expendable” means able to be used up or spent, especially without much concern. In plain terms, something (or someone) that can be used up, discarded, or sacrificed without much loss.
How do you pronounce “expendable”?
“Expendable” is pronounced ihk-SPEHN-duh-buhl (/ɪkˈspɛndəbəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “expendable” in a sentence?
Here is “expendable” used in a sentence: “The budget included expendable supplies like paper and ink.”
What part of speech is “expendable”?
“Expendable” is an adjective.
How many meanings does “expendable” have?
“Expendable” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: able to be used up or spent, especially without much concern.
