inefficient
|in/ef/fi/cient|
B2
/ˌɪnɪˈfɪʃənt/
wasteful use of resources
Etymology
Etymology Information
'inefficient' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'inefficax', where 'in-' meant 'not' and 'efficax' meant 'effective'.
Historical Evolution
'inefficax' transformed into the French word 'inefficace', and eventually became the modern English word 'inefficient' through Middle English.
Meaning Changes
Initially, it meant 'not effective', and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
not achieving maximum productivity; wasting or failing to make the best use of time or resources.
The old machinery was inefficient and needed to be replaced.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/01/11 11:35