expendable

1 of 2

adjective

ex·​pend·​able ik-ˈspen-də-bəl How to pronounce expendable (audio)
: that may be expended: such as
a
: normally used up or consumed in service
expendable supplies like pencils and paper
b
: more easily or economically replaced than rescued, salvaged, or protected
expendability noun

expendable

2 of 2

noun

: one that is expendable
usually used in plural

Examples of expendable in a Sentence

Adjective employees whose jobs are considered expendable
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
Stouffer told the companies to focus instead on making a lot of inexpensive, expendable material. Michael Copley, NPR, 9 June 2024 Meanwhile, the Biden administration, drawing on a trove of new data, is concerned that too many private equity funds exploit investors and treat employees as expendable, hurting them and the economy as a whole. Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 7 June 2024
Noun
In the novel, Mickey 7 is a space colonist known as an expendable. Pamela McClintock, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Mar. 2024 The addition includes around 32,000 square feet of production offices; a 4,310-square-foot wardrobe department, complete with laundry; a nearly 8,000-square-foot expendables department; 18,000 square feet of storage; and a roughly 3,200-square-foot visitor space with a studio merchandise shop. J. Clara Chan, Los Angeles Times, 25 Jan. 2024 See all Example Sentences for expendable 

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

Adjective

1805, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1942, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of expendable was in 1805

Dictionary Entries Near expendable

Cite this Entry

“Expendable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/expendable. Accessed 15 Jun. 2024.

Kids Definition

expendable

adjective
ex·​pend·​able
ik-ˈspen-də-bəl
: normally used up in service
expendable supplies like pencils and paper
expendability
-ˌspen-də-ˈbil-ət-ē
noun
expendable noun
expendably
-ˈspen-də-blē
adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on expendable

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!