efficient

adjective

ef·​fi·​cient i-ˈfi-shənt How to pronounce efficient (audio)
1
: productive of desired effects
especially : capable of producing desired results with little or no waste (as of time or materials)
an efficient worker
efficient machinery
2
: being or involving the immediate agent in producing an effect
the efficient action of heat in changing water to steam

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Comparing Efficient, Effective, and Proficient

These three words cover some overlapping territory.

Efficient most often describes what is capable of producing desired results without wasting materials, time, or energy. While the word can be applied to both people and things, it is far more commonly applied to things, such as machines, systems, processes, and organizations. The focus of the word is on how little is wasted or lost while the desired results are produced.

Effective typically describes things—such as policies, treatments, arguments, and techniques—that do what they are intended to do. People can also be described as effective when they accomplish what they set out to accomplish, but the word is far more often applied to things.

Proficient typically describes people, and it often is followed by the preposition at. If you are proficient at something, you are very good at it. You are, in fact, so good at doing it that you are unusually efficient when you do it. One can also be proficient in something, such as a language.

Choose the Right Synonym for efficient

effective, effectual, efficient, efficacious mean producing or capable of producing a result.

effective stresses the actual production of or the power to produce an effect.

an effective rebuttal

effectual suggests the accomplishment of a desired result especially as viewed after the fact.

the measures to stop the pilfering proved effectual

efficient suggests an acting or a potential for action or use in such a way as to avoid loss or waste of energy in effecting, producing, or functioning.

an efficient small car

efficacious suggests possession of a special quality or virtue that gives effective power.

a detergent that is efficacious in removing grease

Examples of efficient in a Sentence

Like a page-turner of a novel, [Nomar] Garciaparra keeps you eager to see what comes next, especially this season, when he will have the most efficient RBI machine in baseball, free-agent signee Manny Ramirez, riding shotgun with him. Tom Verducci, Sports Illustrated, 5 Mar. 2001
Short and muscular, he is as efficient as a surgeon, cracking eggs with one hand and tossing the shells into the basket under the counter behind him without looking, flipping bread into the slots of a row of toasters, and literally throwing "to go" orders ten feet down the counter to the guy manning the cash register. Paul Baumann, Commonweal, 18 July 1997
Wilde was wearing two emeralds, … one on the little finger of each hand. That on the left was the efficient cause of all joys, that on the right of misfortunes. Asked why he continued to wear the one on the right, Wilde said, "One needs misfortunes to live happily." Richard Ellmann, Oscar Wilde, (1984) 1988
Originally designed for the preparation of desserts, the woks eventually proved their versatility as efficient vessels for stir-frying, deep-frying, and the reduction of liquids. Kemp Miles Minifie, Gourmet, November 1988
that manual lawn mower is not a very efficient tool for doing a huge yard
Recent Examples on the Web The leaves extending into space above the yellow flowers at far right are as flat and efficient as something by Alex Katz. Washington Post, 7 Mar. 2024 So Dash Carts could prove very efficient for stores and their shareholders. Christine Kilpatrick, The Mercury News, 7 Mar. 2024 Meanwhile, Ram is focused on making its available powertrains as efficient as possible. Kristin Shaw, Popular Science, 6 Mar. 2024 These tools are efficient and provide valuable insights into candidate compatibility. Glenn Gow, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2024 Business challenges grow What was highly efficient in 1931, however, by the postwar period was antiquated. Richard Selcer, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Feb. 2024 Even with its flaws, the previous system has thus far proven to be more efficient than the new one in Jefferson County, Huber said. Leo Bertucci, The Courier-Journal, 23 Feb. 2024 The tricky bit is that even though a heat pump can be more efficient at cooling than a traditional AC unit, its operating cost during the summer may surprise a household that has never had AC before. Matt Simon, WIRED, 23 Feb. 2024 The system also preconditions the battery to ensure the quickest, most efficient stops when the Prologue reaches the charger. Mark Phelan, Detroit Free Press, 22 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'efficient.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, "active, immediate (of a cause)," borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French, borrowed from Latin efficient-, efficiens "producing or giving rise to something, immediate (of a cause), active," from present participle of efficere "to make, bring about, produce, carry out" — more at effect entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of efficient was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near efficient

Cite this Entry

“Efficient.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/efficient. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

efficient

adjective
ef·​fi·​cient i-ˈfish-ənt How to pronounce efficient (audio)
: capable of producing desired results especially without waste (as of time or energy)
an efficient worker
efficient machinery
efficiently adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on efficient

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