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
According to two people who spoke with him, Mr. McGonigal said the F.B.I. had authorized him to approach U.S. contractors about working with Mr. Rama to help reform the Albanian government, which had long been plagued by corruption and inefficiency.
—
William K. Rashbaum, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2023
Such grotesque inefficiencies would suggest an easy fix, if only the problem were so simple.
—Wade Davis, Rolling Stone, 3 Sep. 2023
Blockchain technology eliminates inconvenience, inefficiency and errors, and reduces the cost by migrating the entire process into a digital form.
—Yu Chen, The Conversation, 6 June 2023
Better instead, said Paul Craney, of the Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance, to combat waste and inefficiency in the existing organization.
—Jason Laughlin, BostonGlobe.com, 17 July 2023
But beyond the sheer inefficiency, siloing disabled people to a handful of sanctioned apps is a tiny echo of how disabled people have been pushed out of public life time and time again.
—S.e. Smith, The Verge, 13 June 2023
Defensively, Bayern struggled in quick transition, and in the attack, the same sort of inefficiency from last season was still an issue.
—Manuel Veth, Forbes, 12 Aug. 2023
This is because workers cut out inefficiencies that a more lengthy workweek allowed, like meetings, to dedicate more time to uninterrupted focus work; Essentially, those of us on a five-day week are filling up our days with time-wasting activities.
—Byorianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 27 July 2023
The youths and teens areas are separated by 200 feet and on two different floor levels creating duplicity inefficiency and poor management of staff.
—Chicago Tribune, 24 July 2023
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William K. Rashbaum, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2023
Such grotesque inefficiencies would suggest an easy fix, if only the problem were so simple.
—Wade Davis, Rolling Stone, 3 Sep. 2023
Blockchain technology eliminates inconvenience, inefficiency and errors, and reduces the cost by migrating the entire process into a digital form.
—Yu Chen, The Conversation, 6 June 2023
Better instead, said Paul Craney, of the Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance, to combat waste and inefficiency in the existing organization.
—Jason Laughlin, BostonGlobe.com, 17 July 2023
But beyond the sheer inefficiency, siloing disabled people to a handful of sanctioned apps is a tiny echo of how disabled people have been pushed out of public life time and time again.
—S.e. Smith, The Verge, 13 June 2023
Defensively, Bayern struggled in quick transition, and in the attack, the same sort of inefficiency from last season was still an issue.
—Manuel Veth, Forbes, 12 Aug. 2023
This is because workers cut out inefficiencies that a more lengthy workweek allowed, like meetings, to dedicate more time to uninterrupted focus work; Essentially, those of us on a five-day week are filling up our days with time-wasting activities.
—Byorianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 27 July 2023
The youths and teens areas are separated by 200 feet and on two different floor levels creating duplicity inefficiency and poor management of staff.
—Chicago Tribune, 24 July 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'inefficiency.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1749, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Dictionary Entries Near inefficiency
Cite this Entry
“Inefficiency.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inefficiency. Accessed 29 Sep. 2023.
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Kids 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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