wastage

noun

wast·​age ˈwā-stij How to pronounce wastage (audio)
: loss, decrease, or destruction of something (as by use, decay, erosion, or leakage)
especially : wasteful or avoidable loss of something valuable

Examples of wastage in a Sentence

the slash-and-burn wastage of the surrounding countryside as the army made its way to the sea
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
With a lot of last-mile delivery apps, food is quickly accessible, but tech hasn’t yet solved the excess wastage issue yet. Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2025 Make small batches to mitigate the risk of spoilage and wastage. Nicole Hvidsten, Boston Herald, 20 Aug. 2025 McDonald's Japan recently paused a high-demand Pokémon card Happy Meal campaign due to crowds and food wastage, highlighting the popularity of such tie-ins. Ben Kelly, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Aug. 2025 Photos on social media showed dozens of bags of Happy Meals dumped outside a restaurant, as well as unclaimed food left sitting idly on self-pick-up tables, prompting public outcries of food wastage. Kathleen Magramo, CNN Money, 13 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for wastage

Word History

First Known Use

1735, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of wastage was in 1735

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Cite this Entry

“Wastage.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wastage. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

wastage

noun
wast·​age ˈwā-stij How to pronounce wastage (audio)
: loss, decrease, or destruction of something (as by use, decay, erosion, or leakage)
especially : wasteful or avoidable loss of something valuable

More from Merriam-Webster on wastage

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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