consumption

noun

con·​sump·​tion kən-ˈsəm(p)-shən 

1

a

: the act or process of consuming

consumption of food

consumption of resources

b

: use by or exposure to a particular group or audience

The document was not intended for public consumption.

2

: use of something

the jet's high consumption of fuel

the consumption of electricity

3

a

: tuberculosis

b

: a progressive wasting away of the body especially from pulmonary tuberculosis

Examples of consumption in a Sentence

The jet's high fuel consumption makes it expensive to operate.

Recent Examples on the Web

Novo Nordisk is testing whether wastewater from pharmaceutical production can be cleaned well enough to be used again in the manufacturing process, potentially cutting the company’s water consumption by half. — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 8 Sep. 2026

Roebbelen said the setup generally offsets the property’s electricity consumption, although the pool house occasionally pushed use beyond that balance. — David Caraccio, Sacbee.com, 5 Sep. 2026

His father begs him to stop work, wondering why filming a story about the closure of bakeries in Jabalia for consumption by outlets like the UK’s Channel 4 is worth risking losing his only son. — Ritesh Mehta, IndieWire, 5 Sep. 2026

The rapid expansion of AI infrastructure has brought disputes over electricity costs, water consumption, development, and land use into races around the country. — Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 5 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English consumpcioun, from Latin consumption-, consumptio, from consumere — see consume

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing consumption

• conspicuous consumption

Rhymes for consumption

• assumption
• presumption
• resumption
• subsumption
• gumption
• sumption

Kids Definition

consumption

noun

con·​sump·​tion kən-ˈsəm(p)-shən 

1

a

: the act or process of consuming

b

: the amount consumed

2

a

: a gradual and continuous wasting away of the body especially from tuberculosis of the lungs

b

: tuberculosis

Medical Definition

consumption

noun

con·​sump·​tion kən-ˈsəm(p)-shən 

1

: a progressive wasting away of the body especially from pulmonary tuberculosis

2

: tuberculosis