cost-benefit

adjective

cost-ben·​e·​fit ˈkȯs(t)-ˈbe-nə-ˌfit How to pronounce cost-benefit (audio)
: of, relating to, or being economic analysis that assigns a numerical value to the cost-effectiveness of an operation, procedure, or program

Examples of cost-benefit in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Hence the winners and losers here will be determined by their cost-benefit performance for business. David G.w. Birch, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2025 Some countries, such as the United Kingdom, use oversimplified and inherently biased cost-benefit analyses, called health technology assessments, to justify setting low prices on new medicines. Jeffrey Gerrish, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Aug. 2025 That study would have included cost-benefit analyses of alternatives to the rule, in addition to gauging the rule's effectiveness in comparison to those alternatives. Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 31 July 2025 As usual, Netflix does cost-benefit analysis in making renewal or cancellation decisions. Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 2 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for cost-benefit

Word History

First Known Use

1942, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cost-benefit was in 1942

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Cite this Entry

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

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