expendable

[ ik-spen-duh-buhl ]

adjective

1. capable of being expended.
2. (of an item of equipment or supply) consumed in use or not reusable.
3. considered to be not worth keeping or maintaining.
4. Military. (of personnel, equipment, or supplies) capable of being sacrificed in order to accomplish a military objective.

noun

1. Usually expendables. an expendable person or thing.

expendable

/ ɪkˈspɛndəbəl /

adjective

1. that may be expended or used up
2. not essential; not worth preserving
3. able to be sacrificed to achieve an objective, esp a military one

noun

1. something that is expendable

Derived Forms

• exˌpendaˈbility, noun

Other Words From

• ex·penda·bili·ty noun
• nonex·penda·ble adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of expendable¹

First recorded in 1795–1805; expend + -able

Example Sentences

Like its predecessor, Ariane-5, the new model is expendable - a new rocket is needed for every mission, whereas the latest American vehicles are being built to be wholly or partially reusable.

From BBC

Also seen as expendable is Boeing’s participation in the United Launch Alliance, a joint venture it formed with Lockheed Martin in 2006.

From Los Angeles Times

I am therefore able to use my expendable income to help out my friends with children and to populate my wardrobe with the clothes I never imagined existed when I was 20.

From Los Angeles Times

Like its predecessor, Ariane-5, the new model is expendable - a new rocket is needed for every mission, whereas the latest American vehicles are being built to be wholly or partially reusable.

From BBC

They and their families are expendable indentured servants on a rock enrobed in perpetual darkness.

From Salon

Related Words

• disposable
• superfluous
• unimportant