inefficient

adjective

in·​ef·​fi·​cient ˌi-nə-ˈfi-shənt 

: not efficient: such as

a

: wasteful of time or energy

inefficient operating procedures

b

: incapable, incompetent

an inefficient worker

c

: not producing the effect intended or desired

used inefficient measures

inefficient noun

inefficiently adverb

Synonyms of inefficient

• unsuccessful
• ineffective
• counterproductive

Examples of inefficient in a Sentence

The delivery system was very inefficient.

an inefficient use of fuel

Recent Examples on the Web

Congress is known for being notoriously slow and inefficient, while our presidential administration is aggressively pushing policies left and right. —Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 May 2026

Hundreds of people waiting to deliver 60 seconds of unstructured testimony is inefficient for residents and unhelpful for policymakers. —Steve Scauzillo, Daily News, 4 May 2026

What moves the number The result of all these factors is that the price that drivers see at the pump mostly reflects the global price of crude, plus a stack of domestic costs, only some of which are inefficient. —Robert I. Harris, The Conversation, 1 May 2026

America’s economy has been the envy of the world for its talent at replacing old, inefficient business models, scaling up new technologies and turning failures into comebacks. —The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 1 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1750, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for inefficient

• beneficent
• coefficient
• insufficient
• deficient
• efficient
• omniscient
• proficient
• sufficient

Kids Definition

inefficient

adjective

in·​ef·​fi·​cient ˌin-ə-ˈfish-ənt 

1

: not producing the effect expected or desired

inefficient regulations

2

: wasteful of time or energy

inefficient procedures

especially : accomplishing little relative to the time spent or effort expended

an inefficient worker

inefficiently adverb