inefficiency
Americannoun
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the quality or condition of being inefficient; lack of efficiency.
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an instance of inefficiency.
This work is riddled with inefficiencies.
Other Word Forms
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.
Inefficiency is one of the biggest factors holding India back, Adani says.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 9, 2026
Inefficiency, even corruption, became the order of the day.
From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2016
But the mere fact that we now have better technology for squeezing inefficiencies out of the system is not such a reason: Inefficiency is precisely the price we have agreed to pay for nondiscrimination.
From Slate • Apr. 26, 2013
"Inefficiency makes him angry," one bank insider said.
From Reuters • Nov. 11, 2012
Office of Finance, October 3d, 1781,484 Inefficiency of the confederacy.—Funds in his hands.
From The Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution, Vol. XI by Sparks, Jared
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.
