Synonyms

inefficiency

American

[in-i-fish-uhn-see] / ˌɪn ɪˈfɪʃ ən si /

noun

plural

inefficiencies

the quality or condition of being inefficient; lack of efficiency.
an instance of inefficiency.

This work is riddled with inefficiencies.

Etymology

Origin of inefficiency

First recorded in 1740–50; ineffici(ent) + -ency

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Scheutz compared this inefficiency to everyday AI tools.

From Science Daily • Apr. 5, 2026

High token use can indicate either high performance or inefficiency, with some AI projects costing thousands of dollars.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 18, 2026

Over time, some organisms have evolved ways to overcome this inefficiency.

From Science Daily • Mar. 11, 2026

Government inefficiency still plagues the country, and it has the worst pollution on the planet.

From Barron's • Feb. 18, 2026

Because of those laws, not much foreign beer gets exported to Germany, and because of inefficiency and high prices much less of that wonderful German beer than you would otherwise expect gets sold abroad.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023