efficient

adjective ef·fi·cient \ i-ˈfi-shənt \

|Updated on: 12 Jun 2018

Editor's Note: Comparing efficient, effective, and proficient

Definition of efficient

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

—

efficiently

adverb

See efficient defined for English-language learners

See efficient defined for kids

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 of efficient from the Web

Kelvin Herrera has been absurdly efficient — two earned runs, no walks, and 19 strikeouts in 22 2/3 innings — and all contenders can always use relief pitching.

— sam mellinger, kansascity, "Mellinger Minutes: Trump kicks the NFL, Chiefs fans are cocky (?) and Mahomes' endorsements," 5 June 2018
With options to search by country, category (womenswear, menswear, accessories), and sustainability, navigating the site is far more efficient than trawling the racks at a trade show, say.

— chioma nnadi, Vogue, "This New Online Platform Is the Wikipedia of Young African Fashion Designers," 1 June 2018
Things would be more efficient if the gubbins could be dispensed with and a rocket designed that consists of only payload, motor and propellants.

— The Economist, "A rocket that devours itself," 31 May 2018
The general arc of progress in industry—and sport is an industry—is that advances in technology leads to smarter, more efficient performance.

— daniel rapaport, SI.com, "FORE Questions: Young Americans Are Dominating Professional Golf," 28 May 2018
Hollins was efficient last season, catching 16 of 22 targets for 226 yards and a touchdown as the fourth receiver.

— jeff mclane, Philly.com, "Eagles' Mack Hollins looking to get his freak on with new wide receivers coach | Jeff McLane," 25 May 2018
But because the show was so wonderfully efficient with its storytelling, the season whipped by way too fast — meaning that Season 2 really could not appear on our screens fast enough.

— richard lawson, HWD, "What’s New on Netflix in June," 24 May 2018
Warehouses, where random products are stacked next to each other to make the most of the space, are much more efficient.

— beth kowitt, Fortune, "How Amazon Is Using Whole Foods in a Bid for Total Retail Domination," 21 May 2018
This is more efficient than other solar-powered water purifiers, Gan says.

— emily matchar, Smithsonian, "Could This Low-Cost Device Provide Clean Drinking Water To Those In Need?," 17 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'efficient.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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.

Origin and Etymology of efficient

Middle English, from Middle French or Latin; Middle French, from Latin efficient-, efficiens, from present participle of efficere

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 2

See Words from the same year

efficient Synonyms

Synonym Discussion of 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.