Dictionary

efficiency en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ɪˈfɪʃ.ən.si/
• [ɪˈfɪʃn̩si]
• (California, Southern) audio
• /ɪˈfɪʃ.ɪn.si/

Etymology

From Latin efficientia, equivalent to efficient + -cy.

Meanings

1. (countable, uncountable) The extent to which a resource is used for the intended purpose.
   • In a letter DeJoy sent to Congress on Thursday, he said DOGE teams will “assist us in identifying and achieving further efficiencies,” saying the Elon Musk-led agency will focus on improving the management of USPS retirement assets and the Workers’ Compensation Program, as well as addressing the agency’s legislative mandates and regulatory requirements. 2025 March 13, Gabe Cohen, “Head of Postal Service agrees to let DOGE work with USPS”, in CNN:
2. (countable, uncountable) The extent to which a resource is used for the intended purpose. ▸ The ratio of useful work to energy expended. Often given the symbol η.
   • The efficiency of this loudspeaker is 40%.
3. (countable, uncountable) The extent to which a resource is used for the intended purpose. ▸ The extent to which time is well used for the intended task.
   • The efficiency of the planning department is deplorable.
   • Even at the busiest periods, an air of quiet orderliness pervades the hall, and the first impression gained by the traveller is one of efficiency, neatness and cleanliness. 1951 October 14, H. A. Vallance, “Across Denmark by Lyntog”, in Railway Magazine, page 658:
   • The display and result must be placed in the context that was it was against a side that looked every bit their Fifa world ranking of 141 - but England completed the job with efficiency to record their biggest away win in 19 years. 2012 September 7, Phil McNulty, “Moldova 0-5 England”, in BBC Sport:
4. (countable, dated, uncountable) The quality of producing an effect or effects.
   • The manner of this divine efficiency being far above us. [1594], Richard Hooker, edited by J[ohn] S[penser], Of the Lawes of Ecclesiastical Politie, […], London: […] Iohn Windet, […], →OCLC, (please specify the page):
5. (US, countable, uncountable) A one-room apartment.
   • fully-furnished efficiencies
   • I have an efficiency available June through July.

Forms

Antonyms

wastefulness · inefficiency · inefficiency · wastefulness · wastefulness · inefficiency

Deriveds

equiefficiency · efficiency engineer · superefficiency · high-efficiency · nonefficiency · coefficiency · photoefficiency · cost efficiency · ecoefficiency · low-efficiency · efficiency ratio

Hyponyms

static efficiency · Kaldor-Hicks efficiency · allocative efficiency · dynamic efficiency · tax efficiency · productive efficiency · Pareto efficiency · business efficiency · energy efficiency · thermal efficiency · electrical efficiency · algorithmic efficiency · material efficiency · fuel efficiency · quantum efficiency

Relateds

effector · effective · efficacy · efficacious · effectuate · effectual · effect · effectivity · efficiently · efficient · efficacity · effectiveness

Synonyms

studio apartment · efficiency apartment · bedsit

Translations (67)

de Effizienz (extent to which a resource is used for the intended purpose) · fi hyötysuhde (extent to which a resource is used for the intended purpose) · uz samaradorlik (extent to which a resource is used for the intended purpose) · pl sprawność (extent to which a resource is used for the intended purpose) · th ประสิทธิภาพ (extent to which a resource is used for the intended purpose) · el στούντιο (one-room apartment) · cmn 效能 (extent to which time is well used) · de Einraumwohnung (one-room apartment) · fi tehokkuus (extent to which time is well used) · az səmərə (extent to which a resource is used for the intended purpose) · ca eficiència (extent to which time is well used) · it efficienza (extent to which a resource is used for the intended purpose) · ro eficiență (extent to which time is well used) · cmn 效率 (extent to which time is well used) · it rendimento (extent to which time is well used) · de Wirksamkeit (extent to which a resource is used for the intended purpose) · fi yksiö (one-room apartment) · ms efisiensi (extent to which a resource is used for the intended purpose) · pl efektywność (extent to which time is well used) · tl katalaban (extent to which time is well used) · gl estudio (one-room apartment) · fr rendement (extent to which a resource is used for the intended purpose) · ja 効率 (extent to which a resource is used for the intended purpose) · tl katalban (extent to which a resource is used for the intended purpose) · cmn 效率 (extent to which a resource is used for the intended purpose) · ja 効率性 (extent to which a resource is used for the intended purpose) · es eficiencia (extent to which time is well used) · la efficientia (extent to which time is well used) · tl katalban (extent to which time is well used) · de Wirkungsgrad (extent to which time is well used) · sv etta (one-room apartment) · sv övernattningsrum (one-room apartment) · ms keefisienan (extent to which a resource is used for the intended purpose) · el γκαρσονιέρα (one-room apartment) · tl katalaban (extent to which a resource is used for the intended purpose) · ja 時間効率 (extent to which time is well used) · hu hatékonyság (extent to which time is well used) · nl efficiëntie (extent to which time is well used) · de Einzimmerwohnung (one-room apartment) · fr efficacité (extent to which time is well used) · de Leistungsfähigkeit (extent to which a resource is used for the intended purpose) · cs efektivita (extent to which time is well used) · tr verimlilik (extent to which a resource is used for the intended purpose) · it efficienza (extent to which time is well used) · nl rendement (extent to which a resource is used for the intended purpose) · la efficientia (extent to which a resource is used for the intended purpose) · ca rendiment (extent to which a resource is used for the intended purpose) · ru эффекти́вность (extent to which a resource is used for the intended purpose) · pt eficiência (extent to which a resource is used for the intended purpose) · bg производителност (extent to which a resource is used for the intended purpose) · cmn 效能 (extent to which a resource is used for the intended purpose) · sv effektivitet (extent to which time is well used) · ru эффекти́вность (extent to which time is well used) · pt eficiência (extent to which time is well used) · sv enrummare (one-room apartment) · ms kecekapan (extent to which a resource is used for the intended purpose) · tr verimlilik (extent to which time is well used) · sk efektívnosť (extent to which time is well used) · ja 効率 (extent to which time is well used) · cs účinnost (extent to which a resource is used for the intended purpose) · hu hatásfok (extent to which a resource is used for the intended purpose) · de Effizienz (extent to which time is well used) · bg ефективност (extent to which time is well used) · sv verkningsgrad (extent to which a resource is used for the intended purpose) · th ประสิทธิภาพ (extent to which time is well used) · ru студия (one-room apartment) · ja 効率性 (extent to which time is well used)