expendable

1 of 2

adjective

ex·​pend·​able ik-ˈspen-də-bəl 

: that may be expended: such as

a

: normally used up or consumed in service

expendable supplies like pencils and paper

b

: more easily or economically replaced than rescued, salvaged, or protected

expendability

ik-ˌspen-də-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun

expendable

2 of 2

noun

: one that is expendable

—usually used in plural

Examples of expendable in a Sentence

Adjective

employees whose jobs are considered expendable

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The White House has highlighted examples such as the $4 billion-per-launch cost of the Space Launch System, NASA's expendable heavy-lift rocket. —Sophie Clark, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 June 2025

And enough expendable big contracts (Andrew Wiggins, Duncan Robinson, Terry Rozier) to balance the trade financially. —Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 27 June 2025

Noun

So by the time Mace Windu, Kit Fisto, and a pair of Jedi expendables turn up to arrest the Chancellor (aka Darth Sidious) for orchestrating the entire Clone War, the damage has already been done. —Richard Edwards, Space.com, 24 Apr. 2025

One expendable named Mickey (Robert Pattinson) is part of a mission to colonize a distant planet, under the authority of a sleazily predatory and demagogic politician, Kenneth Marshall (Mark Ruffalo). —Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 11 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1805, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1942, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for expendable

• spendable
• amendable
• commendable
• dependable
• extendable
• undependable

Kids Definition

expendable

adjective

ex·​pend·​able

ik-ˈspen-də-bəl

: normally used up in service

expendable supplies like pencils and paper

expendability

-ˌspen-də-ˈbil-ət-ē

noun

expendable noun

expendably

-ˈspen-də-blē

adverb