efficiency

[ih-fish-uhn-see]

noun

plural

efficiencies 

1. the state or quality of being efficient, or able to accomplish something with the least waste of time and effort; competency in performance.

2. accomplishment of or ability to accomplish a job with a minimum expenditure of time and effort.

   The assembly line increased industry's efficiency.

3. the ratio of the work done or energy developed by a machine, engine, etc., to the energy supplied to it, usually expressed as a percentage.

4. efficiency apartment.

efficiency

/ ɪˈfɪʃənsɪ /

noun

1. the quality or state of being efficient; competence; effectiveness

2. the ratio of the useful work done by a machine, engine, device, etc, to the energy supplied to it, often expressed as a percentage See also thermal efficiency

efficiency

1. The ratio of the energy delivered (or work done) by a machine to the energy needed (or work required) in operating the machine. The efficiency of any machine is always less than one due to forces such as friction that use up energy unproductively.

2. See also mechanical advantage

3. The ratio of the effective or useful output to the total input in any system.

Other Word Forms

• nonefficiency noun
• superefficiency noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of efficiency¹

First recorded in 1585–95; from Latin efficientia, from efficient- (stem of efficiēns efficient ) + -ia -y ³

Example Sentences

Add to that spirit of efficiency the fact that for increasingly budget-conscious U.S. media outlets, sending reporters to Toronto can often be a more cost-effective choice than pricier destinations such as Cannes, Telluride or Venice.

From Los Angeles Times

Ms O'Donnell's early retirement, aged 59, had been justified on the grounds of "efficiency" under the restructuring plan.

From BBC

This year, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy said he expects the e-commerce giant to shrink its workforce as employees “get efficiency gains from using AI extensively.”

From Los Angeles Times

They create new expectations for speed and efficiency in law enforcement, making it politically costly to revert to slower, more manual processes.

From Salon

"Under this scenario no long-term efficiency savings would be delivered, meaning it would be more efficient to retain the current two-tier system in England," the CCN's analysis said.

From BBC

Related Words

• ability 
• adaptability 
• capability 
• competence 
• energy 
• expertise 
• performance 
• productivity 
• readiness 
• skill 
• talent