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

That makes Duran expendable if the right trade offer is presented. —Zach Pressnell, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 July 2025

Which makes locking him in long-term top priority at Madison Square Garden — and makes Robinson potentially expendable by the mid-February trade deadline for financial reasons alone. —Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 23 July 2025

Noun

Mickey, along with other expendables, is sent to the planet Nilfheim to fight an alien race of monstrous creatures in order to make way for human civilization. —Erik Kain, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2025

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

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