inefficiency
noun
in·ef·fi·cien·cy
ˌi-nə-ˈfi-shən(t)-sē 
plural inefficiencies
1
: the quality or state of being inefficient
2
: something that is inefficient
Examples of inefficiency in a Sentence
The candidate blamed her opponent for the local government's inefficiency.
She claims that money can be saved by reducing inefficiencies.
Recent Examples on the Web
ReCircled said Avery Dennison’s RFID technology helped eliminate some of the cost and operational inefficiencies of manual product identification, including inaccurate identification of garments.
—
Jennifer Bringle, Footwear News, 14 May 2026
Hybrid semiconductor system A primary driver of this research is the inherent inefficiency of current light-harvesting systems, in which solar panels capture only about 20% of incident energy, while plants utilize only 1%.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 14 May 2026
While Oklahoma City deployed its 10th or 11th men at times, Redick stuck to eight- or nine-man rotations, hamstrung by inefficiencies across the bottom half of the roster.
—Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 13 May 2026
Snell’s short start ultimately stemmed from inefficiency.
—Katie Woo, New York Times, 10 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for inefficiency
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Jennifer Bringle, Footwear News, 14 May 2026
Hybrid semiconductor system A primary driver of this research is the inherent inefficiency of current light-harvesting systems, in which solar panels capture only about 20% of incident energy, while plants utilize only 1%.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 14 May 2026
While Oklahoma City deployed its 10th or 11th men at times, Redick stuck to eight- or nine-man rotations, hamstrung by inefficiencies across the bottom half of the roster.
—Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 13 May 2026
Snell’s short start ultimately stemmed from inefficiency.
—Katie Woo, New York Times, 10 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for inefficiency
Cite this Entry
“Inefficiency.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inefficiency. Accessed 17 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
inefficiency
noun
in·ef·fi·cien·cy
ˌin-ə-ˈfish-ən-sē
plural inefficiencies
1
: the quality or state of being inefficient
2
: something that is inefficient
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