inefficient

adjective

in·​ef·​fi·​cient ˌi-nə-ˈfi-shənt How to pronounce inefficient (audio)
: 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
inefficient noun
inefficiently adverb

Examples of inefficient in a Sentence

The delivery system was very inefficient. an inefficient use of fuel
Recent Examples on the Web Airdrops — expensive, cumbersome and inefficient — are considered by the aid community the last resort of food delivery. Jane Arraf, NPR, 1 Mar. 2024 Relatively few brands manufacture their own clothing, usually to save money by using existing manufacturers overseas or to access production capabilities that would be too costly or inefficient to build in-house. Amanda Mull, The Atlantic, 20 Feb. 2024 The reality is that natural gas resources are very large and saving them for future use is usually economically inefficient (subject for a future post). Michael Lynch, Forbes, 16 Feb. 2024 An origami computer would be massively inefficient and impractical. Jordana Cepelewicz, Quanta Magazine, 30 Jan. 2024 Even worse, inefficient cross-team coordination wastes up to 12% of organizational resources—time and money—and creates too many surprises along the way, which no one can afford right now (or ever, frankly). Yaniv Shor, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024 The boost in spending in the current fiscal year is important, but much more is needed to make up for the underfunding and inefficient spending in the past 10 years. Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Feb. 2024 China’s total power capacity is already sufficient to meet demand, but its inefficient grid is unable to deliver electricity where it is needed, especially across provincial borders, encouraging more plant construction. Reuters, CNN, 22 Feb. 2024 Globally, more than three-quarters of soybean production goes to feeding livestock, and since animals are relatively inefficient at turning calories into meat, only a slim share of those calories from soy ever make it into human diets. Matt Reynolds, WIRED, 13 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'inefficient.' 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

1750, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of inefficient was in 1750

Dictionary Entries Near inefficient

Cite this Entry

“Inefficient.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inefficient. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

inefficient

adjective
in·​ef·​fi·​cient ˌin-ə-ˈfish-ənt How to pronounce inefficient (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on inefficient

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