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

The sharp improvement in the GDP growth rate was due to a pick-up in manufacturing and construction activity and in domestic consumption. —Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 1 Dec. 2025

Bread or Pastries Bread–or any bakery item intended for human consumption–is not safe for birds to feed them bread. —Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 30 Nov. 2025

Arizona also has other drinking laws Arizona also has its own public drinking laws, which refer to alcohol consumption outside of private property, like a home or a restaurant. —Alexandra Hardle, AZCentral.com, 29 Nov. 2025

Traffic investigators wrote in the affidavit that Gregory, Bryce and Brayden were trying to conceal their vehicles’ speeds at the time of the collision, hide alcohol consumption and cover up leaving Gregory’s house together in an attempt to reduce their culpability. —Jessica Alvarado Gamez, Denver Post, 29 Nov. 2025

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