inefficient
Americanadjective
-
not efficient; unable to effect or achieve the desired result with reasonable economy of means.
-
lacking in ability, incompetent.
adjective
-
unable to perform a task or function to the best advantage; wasteful or incompetent
-
unable to produce the desired result
Related Words
See incapable.
Other Word Forms
- inefficiency noun
- inefficiently adverb
Etymology
Origin of inefficient
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.
It was his most inefficient shooting performance with more than 11 shots of his career.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 11, 2026
What struck me most was the assumption beneath it all: that stopping to eat is not indulgent or inefficient, but necessary.
From Salon • Feb. 19, 2026
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said: "We want to work with local councils to deliver our ambition to simplify local government and end inefficient two-tier structures, including in Essex."
From BBC • Feb. 19, 2026
Ordinary Saudis, royals and officials close to Crown Prince Mohammed told me during a two-week visit to Riyadh that he understands he moved too fast and created inefficient spending.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 10, 2026
The first few EVAs were pretty inefficient; me filling small containers and bringing them in through the airlock.
From "The Martian" by Andy Weir
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
