consumption

American  

[kuhn-suhmp-shuhn] / kənˈsʌmp ʃən /

noun

• consumptions
  plural

1. the act of consuming, as by use, decay, or destruction.

   Synonyms:

   utilization, exploitation, depletion

2. the amount consumed.

   the high consumption of gasoline.

3. Economics. the using up of goods and services having an exchangeable value.

4. Pathology.

   1. Older Use. tuberculosis of the lungs.

   2. progressive wasting of the body.

---

consumption British  

/ kənˈsʌmpʃən /

noun

1. the act of consuming or the state of being consumed, esp by eating, burning, etc

2. economics expenditure on goods and services for final personal use

3. the quantity consumed

4. pathol a condition characterized by a wasting away of the tissues of the body, esp as seen in tuberculosis of the lungs

---

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonconsumption
  noun
• overconsumption
  noun
• preconsumption
  noun
• self-consumption
  noun
• underconsumption
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• consumptions
  plural

Etymology

Origin of consumption

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English consumpcyon, from Middle French, from Latin consūmptiōn-, stem of consūmptiō “employment, use, waste,” from consūmpt(us) “used up” (past participle of consūmere “to use up, waste”; see consume) + -iō -ion

Explanation

Consumption means using, buying or eating something. If we don't reduce our energy consumption, we will run out of fuel. Conspicuous consumption is buying something to show off. Consumption is related to the verb consume, which means to eat, use, or buy. You will often read about consumption in terms of rate––how fast we are using up a particular resource. If you consume ten cookies in an hour, your rate of consumption is ten cookies an hour. Sustainable? Let's hope not.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

consumption consumptions

It represents about 15% of rice consumption worldwide.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 17, 2026

“But in a way that is another cost of the war—people being forced off consumption they would otherwise have chosen,” said Jeff Colgan, a Brown University professor and director of its Climate Solutions Lab.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 16, 2026

Ants are not among the 10 insect species approved for human consumption in the east Asian nation.

From BBC ● Sep. 16, 2026

"China's economy continues to show diverging signals, as consumption and investment remain weak while industrial production maintains the momentum," Zhiwei Zhang, President and Chief Economist at Pinpoint Asset Management, wrote in an analyst note.

From Barron's ● Sep. 15, 2026

Mam always says it’s the damp clothes that give you the consumption and an early grave.

From "Angela's Ashes: A Memoir" by Frank McCourt

Cutting meat consumptions — particularly red meat, particularly in high-income countries — represents an opportunity to lower methane emissions.

From Salon ● Sep. 17, 2024

Because of Covid-19 and the sanctions, this trade was stopped - and his relatives had to sell for domestic consumptions for a much lower return, making it "hard to survive".

From BBC ● Mar. 7, 2024

Religious celebrations — what with sacred slaughters, a stress on all things kosher, ritualized consumptions — are a particular point of tension for Jews who eat vegan.

From Salon ● Aug. 31, 2021

Each individual has to pay for their own consumptions choices.

From Forbes ● Apr. 5, 2015

The coughs, colds, and consumptions are old acquaintances, and through familiarity have lost their terrors.

From The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 07, No. 43, May, 1861 Creator by Various

Related Words

• drinking
• expenditure
• utilization