adjective
Uncommon
inefficient
ihn-ih-FIHSH-uhnt
Inefficient (adjective) means not making good use of time, energy, or resources; wasteful. Example: “The old boiler is inefficient and burns far more gas than a modern one.”
adjective
1
Not making good use of time, energy, or resources; wasteful.
"The old boiler is inefficient and burns far more gas than a modern one."
"Manually copying data between spreadsheets is slow and inefficient."
2
Not able to work productively; sluggish or unproductive.
"An inefficient team can drag out a simple project for weeks."
How to use inefficient
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishWasting resources to get a result — the opposite of doing something the smart, economical way.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
inefficient use of
energy-inefficient
grossly inefficient
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Word forms
- Plural
- inefficients
- Comparative
- more inefficient
- Superlative
- most inefficient
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The old boiler is _____ and burns far more gas than a modern one.
Etymology
From in- + efficient, from Latin efficientem, "effective, powerful."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for inefficient
See all rhymes for inefficient →Frequently asked questions
What does “inefficient” mean?
The word “inefficient” means not making good use of time, energy, or resources; wasteful. In plain terms, wasting resources to get a result — the opposite of doing something the smart, economical way.
How do you pronounce “inefficient”?
“Inefficient” is pronounced ihn-ih-FIHSH-uhnt (/ˌɪn.ɪˈfɪʃ.ənt/ in IPA).
How do you use “inefficient” in a sentence?
Here is “inefficient” used in a sentence: “The old boiler is inefficient and burns far more gas than a modern one.”
What is the opposite of “inefficient”?
The opposite of “inefficient” — its antonyms — is efficient.
What part of speech is “inefficient”?
“Inefficient” is an adjective.
Where does the word “inefficient” come from?
The word “inefficient” comes from Latin. From in- + efficient, from Latin efficientem, "effective, powerful.".
Is “inefficient” a common word?
“Inefficient” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “inefficient” have?
“Inefficient” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: not making good use of time, energy, or resources; wasteful.
