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

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

“That’s what I hate. Why are we coming out and killing ourselves for you, risking our lives? Why is crew being treated like we are expendable?”

From New York Times

Zach Wilson went 12-21 as the starter in New York and was deemed expendable with Aaron Rodgers returning from a torn Achilles tendon suffered in last season’s opener.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• disposable
• superfluous
• unimportant