efficiency

[ih-fish-uhn-see]

noun

plural

efficiencies 

1. the state or quality of being efficient, or able to accomplish something with the least waste of time and effort; competency in performance.

2. accomplishment of or ability to accomplish a job with a minimum expenditure of time and effort.

   The assembly line increased industry's efficiency.

3. the ratio of the work done or energy developed by a machine, engine, etc., to the energy supplied to it, usually expressed as a percentage.

4. efficiency apartment.

efficiency

/ ɪˈfɪʃənsɪ /

noun

1. the quality or state of being efficient; competence; effectiveness

2. the ratio of the useful work done by a machine, engine, device, etc, to the energy supplied to it, often expressed as a percentage See also thermal efficiency

efficiency

1. The ratio of the energy delivered (or work done) by a machine to the energy needed (or work required) in operating the machine. The efficiency of any machine is always less than one due to forces such as friction that use up energy unproductively.

2. See also mechanical advantage

3. The ratio of the effective or useful output to the total input in any system.

Other Word Forms

• nonefficiency noun
• superefficiency noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of efficiency¹

First recorded in 1585–95; from Latin efficientia, from efficient- (stem of efficiēns efficient ) + -ia -y ³

Example Sentences

Hollywood is grappling with the innovations in AI, which is expected to create more efficiency in production but disrupt the jobs of visual effects artists, actors, writers and other talent.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

And in cooling - the car has noticeably fewer and smaller vents than others, a key advantage when every extra opening of the bodywork has a cost in aerodynamic efficiency.

Read more on BBC

Tech companies are cutting jobs in preparation for a possible recession, as well as anticipating efficiencies gained from artificial intelligence, said Rob Enderle, principal analyst at Oregon-based advisory services firm Enderle Group.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

That’s a step climbers sometimes forgo in the name of efficiency, because the knot, itself, can get snagged in a tree or jammed in a crack, leading to more work and slowing them down.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

While celebrating the launch of gas exports from the facility in April 2025, the energy minister called for "continuous vigilance to guarantee the efficiency, transparency and sustainability of economic benefits for the population".

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• ability 
• adaptability 
• capability 
• competence 
• energy 
• expertise 
• performance 
• productivity 
• readiness 
• skill 
• talent