wastage

noun

wast·​age ˈwā-stij How to pronounce wastage (audio)
Synonyms of wastagenext
: loss, decrease, or destruction of something (as by use, decay, erosion, or leakage)
especially : wasteful or avoidable loss of something valuable

Examples of wastage in a Sentence

the slash-and-burn wastage of the surrounding countryside as the army made its way to the sea
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The recovered materials are reused in battery cell production, keeping transport distances short and avoiding the wastage of raw materials. Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 16 Dec. 2025 Despite this administration’s claim of streamlining the government to make its operations more efficient, a range of recent federal policies have, in fact, exacerbated food wastage. Tevis Garrett Graddy-Lovelace, The Conversation, 26 Nov. 2025 Wood pulp is transformed into cellulosic fibers, while more than 99.8 percent of the solvent is recovered and fed back into the loop, resulting in close-to-zero wastage. Sj Studio, Sourcing Journal, 9 Oct. 2025 The modern speed of market disruptions requires agile technology business management through frameworks like FinOps that reduce wastage while delivering value. Tipu Usha Vaithee Swaran, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for wastage

Word History

First Known Use

1735, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of wastage was in 1735

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Cite this Entry

“Wastage.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wastage. Accessed 27 Dec. 2025.

Kids Definition

wastage

noun
wast·​age ˈwā-stij How to pronounce wastage (audio)
: loss, decrease, or destruction of something (as by use, decay, erosion, or leakage)
especially : wasteful or avoidable loss of something valuable

More from Merriam-Webster on wastage

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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