EFFICIENT
Dictionary entry overview: What does efficient mean?
• EFFICIENT (adjective)
The adjective EFFICIENT has 2 senses:
1. being effective without wasting time or effort or expense
2. able to accomplish a purpose; functioning effectively
Familiarity information: EFFICIENT used as an adjective is rare.
Dictionary entry details
• EFFICIENT (adjective)
Meaning:
Being effective without wasting time or effort or expense
Context examples:
an efficient production manager / efficient engines save gas
Similar:
streamlined (made efficient by stripping off nonessentials)
high-octane (used of gasoline; having a high octane number)
expeditious; prompt; timesaving (characterized by speed and efficiency)
economic; economical (using the minimum of time or resources necessary for effectiveness)
cost-effective; cost-efficient (productive relative to the cost)
businesslike (exhibiting methodical and systematic characteristics that would be useful in business)
underspent (not spending at the normal rate)
Also:
effective; effectual; efficacious (producing or capable of producing an intended result or having a striking effect)
competent (properly or sufficiently qualified or capable or efficient)
Antonym:
inefficient (not producing desired results; wasteful)
Meaning:
Able to accomplish a purpose; functioning effectively
Synonyms:
effective; efficient
Context examples:
people who will do nothing unless they get something out of it for themselves are often highly effective persons... / effective personnel / an efficient secretary / the efficient cause of the revolution
Similar:
competent (properly or sufficiently qualified or capable or efficient)
