Dictionary

economical en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• /ˌɛk.əˈnɑ.mɪ.kəl/ (Canada, General-American)
• /ˌiː.kəˈnɒm.ɪ.kəl/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /ˌɛk.əˈnɒm.ɪ.kəl/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /ˌiː.kəˈnɔm.ɪ.kəl/ (Australia)
• /ˌek.əˈnɔm.ɪ.kəl/ (Australia)
• (US) audio
• /ˌi.kəˈnɑ.mɪ.kəl/ (Canada, General-American)

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *weyḱ- Proto-Indo-European *-os Proto-Indo-European *wóyḱos Proto-Hellenic *wóikos Ancient Greek ϝοῖκος (woîkos) Ancient Greek οἶκος (oîkos) Proto-Indo-European *nem-der. Proto-Indo-European *németi Proto-Hellenic *némō Ancient Greek νέμω (némō) Proto-Indo-European *-os Proto-Hellenic *-os Ancient Greek -ος (-os) Ancient Greek νόμος (nómos) Ancient Greek οἰκονόμος (oikonómos) Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂ Proto-Indo-European *-i-eh₂ Proto-Hellenic *-íā Ancient Greek -ῐ́ᾱ (-ĭ́ā) Ancient Greek οἰκονομία (oikonomía)bor. Latin oeconomia Proto-Indo-European *-ikos Proto-Italic *-ikos Latin -icus Latin oeconomicusder. Old French iconomikeder. Middle English iconomiquebor. Middle English economike, iconomique English economic English -al English economical From economic + -al.

Meanings

1. Careful with money so as not to spend too much; prudent; thrifty.
   • He was an economical person by nature.
2. Saving money or resources.
   • The whole [resignalling] scheme has proved more economical than the construction of a new Clyde bridge. 1961 March, “The new Glasgow Central signalbox”, in Trains Illustrated, page 177:
   • The new, eco-friendly bicycle was an economical purchase.
   • Regular freight trains between Abergavenny and Merthyr were withdrawn on November 24, 1954, because it was found both practicable and more economical to send this traffic by less severely-graded routes. 1958 February 14, “Notes and News: Merthyr-Abergavenny Service”, in Railway Magazine, page 138:
3. (dated) Relating to economy in any other sense.
   • In economical science, value and the power of producing value are taken into consideration. 1854, Patrick Edward Dove, The Elements of Political Science, part 2, page 246:
   • Doctor in Economical Sciences. 2007, Who's Who in the Arab World, page 312:
   • By Use, then, in the sense given it by the Say-Hermann school, we have to think of an objective useful element which proceeds from goods, and acquires independent economical existence as well as independent economical value. 1922, Eugen von Böhm-Bawerk, Capital and Interest: A Critical History of Economical Theory, page 218:
   • Economical function usually has anti-crisis orientation and forms stable economical development of the state. 2010, New Techniques and Technologies in Mining, page 20:
4. Having a low economy rate.

Forms

Antonyms

expensive

Deriveds

bioeconomical · economically · economical with the truth · agroeconomical · socio-political-economical · uneconomicalness · pharmacoeconomical · geoeconomical · economicalization · noneconomical · uneconomical · economicalness

Relateds

economic

Synonyms

abstemious · low-cost · nickel · huswifely · cheap · sixpenny · budget · chary · tight · abstemious · cheapo · penny-pinching · competitive · provident · tinhorn · spary · cheap · sparing · brand X · husbandly · low-end · low-priced · moderate · economic · frugal · economical · two a penny · el cheapo · canny · close with a buck · bargainous · economical · cheesy · parsimonious · unexpensive · inexpensive · tightwad · dime a dozen · spareful · economic · cheapie · sparing · bargainous · inexpensive · penny-pinching · low-cost · thrifty · prudent

Translations (49)

cmn 節約的 /节约的 (careful with money) · ga eacnamaíoch (saving money or resources) · sl gospodaren (careful with money) · ru экономи́чный (saving money or resources) · bg икономичен (careful with money) · ru эконо́мный (careful with money) · fi säästäväinen (careful with money) · fa اقتصادی (saving money or resources) · pl oszczędnościowy (saving money or resources) · pl ekonomiczny (careful with money) · ru бережли́вый (careful with money) · hu gazdaságos (saving money or resources) · es ahorrador (careful with money) · el οικονομικός (saving money or resources) · el οικονόμος (careful with money) · sv sparsam (careful with money) · fi säästeliäs (careful with money) · az qənaətkar (careful with money) · fi edullinen (saving money or resources) · fi taloudellinen (saving money or resources) · uk еконо́мний (saving money or resources) · la parcus (careful with money) · uk еконо́мний (careful with money) · az qənaətcil (careful with money) · de sparsam (careful with money) · ga eacnamúil (saving money or resources) · nl spaarzaam (careful with money) · de ökonomisch (careful with money) · nl zuinig (careful with money) · fr économique (saving money or resources) · fa اقتصادی (careful with money) · ga eacnamúil (careful with money) · lv ekonomisks (careful with money) · el φειδωλός (careful with money) · pl oszczędny (careful with money) · az ekonom (careful with money) · fr économe (careful with money) · es económico (careful with money) · gd cùramach (careful with money) · sl ekonomičen (careful with money) · cmn 經濟實惠的 /经济实惠的 (saving money or resources) · es económico (saving money or resources) · cs hospodárný (careful with money) · ga eacnamaíoch (careful with money) · de wirtschaftlich (careful with money) · el οικονομικός (careful with money) · es ahorroso (careful with money) · hu gazdaságos (careful with money) · sl varčen (careful with money)