Meanings
plural efficiencies
- countableuncountableThe extent to which a resource is used for the intended purpose.
1 more example
In a letter DeJoy sent to Congress on Thursday, he said DOGE teams will “assist us in identifying and achieving further efficiencies,” saying the Elon Musk-led agency will focus on improving the management of USPS retirement assets and the Workers’ Compensation Program, as well as addressing the agency’s legislative mandates and regulatory requirements.
2025 March 13, Gabe Cohen, “Head of Postal Service agrees to let DOGE work with USPS”, in CNNAntonyms: inefficiency, wastefulness
- countableuncountableengineeringThe ratio of useful work to energy expended. Often given the symbol η.
The efficiency of this loudspeaker is 40%.
Antonyms: inefficiency, wastefulness
- countableuncountableThe extent to which time is well used for the intended task.
The efficiency of the planning department is deplorable.
2 more examples
Even at the busiest periods, an air of quiet orderliness pervades the hall, and the first impression gained by the traveller is one of efficiency, neatness and cleanliness.
1951 October 28, H. A. Vallance, “Across Denmark by Lyntog”, in Railway Magazine, page 658The display and result must be placed in the context that was it was against a side that looked every bit their Fifa world ranking of 141 - but England completed the job with efficiency to record their biggest away win in 19 years.
2012 September 7, Phil McNulty, “Moldova 0-5 England”, in BBC SportAntonyms: inefficiency, wastefulness
- UScountableuncountableA one-room apartment.
fully-furnished efficiencies
1 more example
I have an efficiency available June through July.
Synonyms: efficiency apartment, studio apartment, bedsit
Synonyms & antonyms
nounThe extent to which a resource is used for the intended purpose.
nounThe ratio of useful work to energy expended. Often given the symbol η.
nounThe extent to which time is well used for the intended task.
nounA one-room apartment.
More synonyms by meaning
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
- Latinefficientia
- Englishefficiency
From Latin efficientia, equivalent to efficient + -cy.
More words from Latin
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Bulgarian ефективност, производителност
- ефективност (efektivnost)extent to which time is well used
- производителност (proizvoditelnost)extent to which a resource is used for the intended purpose
Catalan eficiència, rendiment
- eficiènciaextent to which time is well used
- rendimentextent to which a resource is used for the intended purpose
Chinese Mandarin 效率, 效能
- 效率 (xiàolǜ)extent to which time is well used
- 效能 (xiàonéng)extent to which time is well used
- 效率 (xiàolǜ)extent to which a resource is used for the intended purpose
- 效能 (xiàonéng)extent to which a resource is used for the intended purpose
Czech efektivita, účinnost
- efektivitaextent to which time is well used
- účinnostextent to which a resource is used for the intended purpose
Dutch efficiëntie, rendement
- efficiëntieextent to which time is well used
- rendementextent to which a resource is used for the intended purpose
Finnish tehokkuus, yksiö
- tehokkuusextent to which time is well used
- yksiöone-room apartment
- hyötysuhdeextent to which a resource is used for the intended purpose
French efficacité, rendement
- efficacitéextent to which time is well used
- rendementextent to which a resource is used for the intended purpose
German Effizienz, Wirkungsgrad
- Effizienzextent to which time is well used
- Wirkungsgradextent to which time is well used
- Einzimmerwohnungone-room apartment
- Einraumwohnungone-room apartment
- Effizienzextent to which a resource is used for the intended purpose
- Leistungsfähigkeitextent to which a resource is used for the intended purpose
- Wirksamkeitextent to which a resource is used for the intended purpose
Greek γκαρσονιέρα, στούντιο
- γκαρσονιέρα (gkarsoniéra)one-room apartment
- στούντιο (stoúntio)one-room apartment
Hungarian hatékonyság, hatásfok
- hatékonyságextent to which time is well used
- hatásfokextent to which a resource is used for the intended purpose
Italian efficienza, rendimento
- efficienzaextent to which time is well used
- rendimentoextent to which time is well used
- efficienzaextent to which a resource is used for the intended purpose
Japanese 効率性, 効率
- 効率性extent to which time is well used
- 効率extent to which time is well used
- 時間効率extent to which time is well used
- 効率性extent to which a resource is used for the intended purpose
- 効率extent to which a resource is used for the intended purpose
Latin efficientia, efficientia
- efficientiaextent to which time is well used
- efficientiaextent to which a resource is used for the intended purpose
Malay kecekapan, keefisienan
- kecekapanextent to which a resource is used for the intended purpose
- keefisienanextent to which a resource is used for the intended purpose
- efisiensiextent to which a resource is used for the intended purpose
Polish efektywność, sprawność
- efektywnośćextent to which time is well used
- sprawnośćextent to which a resource is used for the intended purpose
Portuguese eficiência, eficiência
- eficiênciaextent to which time is well used
- eficiênciaextent to which a resource is used for the intended purpose
Romanian eficiență
- eficiențăextent to which time is well used
Russian эффекти́вность, студия
- эффекти́вность (effektívnostʹ)extent to which time is well used
- студия (stúdija)one-room apartment
- эффекти́вность (effektívnostʹ)extent to which a resource is used for the intended purpose
Slovak efektívnosť
- efektívnosťextent to which time is well used
Spanish eficiencia
- eficienciaextent to which time is well used
Swedish effektivitet, enrummare
- effektivitetextent to which time is well used
- enrummareone-room apartment
- ettaone-room apartment
- övernattningsrumone-room apartment
- verkningsgradextent to which a resource is used for the intended purpose
Tagalog katalban, katalaban
- katalbanextent to which time is well used
- katalabanextent to which time is well used
- katalbanextent to which a resource is used for the intended purpose
- katalabanextent to which a resource is used for the intended purpose
Thai ประสิทธิภาพ, ประสิทธิภาพ
- ประสิทธิภาพ (bprà-sìt-tí-pâap)extent to which time is well used
- ประสิทธิภาพ (bprà-sìt-tí-pâap)extent to which a resource is used for the intended purpose
Turkish verimlilik, verimlilik
- verimlilikextent to which time is well used
- verimlilikextent to which a resource is used for the intended purpose
Cite this entry
efficiency. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/efficiency
“efficiency.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/efficiency. Accessed November 2, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “efficiency,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/efficiency.
Source: efficiency on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.