noun
inefficiency
Inefficiency (noun) means the quality of wasting time, effort, or resources instead of working well. Example: “The audit uncovered serious inefficiency in how the warehouse handled orders.”
noun
1
The quality of wasting time, effort, or resources instead of working well.
"The audit uncovered serious inefficiency in how the warehouse handled orders."
"Cutting out inefficiency saved the company thousands each month."
How to use inefficiency
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishWasted effort — doing something in a way that costs more time, money, or energy than it should.
Common pairings
root out inefficiency
operational inefficiency
a source of inefficiency
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Word forms
- Plural
- inefficiencies
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The audit uncovered serious _____ in how the warehouse handled orders.
Etymology
From in- + efficiency, from Latin efficientia.
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for inefficiency
agency
latency
urgency
potency
decency
regency
currency
tendency
clemency
leniency
frequency
emergency
See all rhymes for inefficiency →
Frequently asked questions
What does “inefficiency” mean?
The word “inefficiency” means the quality of wasting time, effort, or resources instead of working well. In plain terms, wasted effort — doing something in a way that costs more time, money, or energy than it should.
How do you use “inefficiency” in a sentence?
Here is “inefficiency” used in a sentence: “The audit uncovered serious inefficiency in how the warehouse handled orders.”
What part of speech is “inefficiency”?
“Inefficiency” is a noun.
Where does the word “inefficiency” come from?
The word “inefficiency” comes from Latin. From in- + efficiency, from Latin efficientia.
