economic
Americanadjective
-
pertaining to the production, distribution, and use of income, wealth, and commodities.
-
of or relating to the science of economics.
-
pertaining to an economy, or system of organization or operation, especially of the process of production.
-
involving or pertaining to one's personal resources of money.
to give up a large house for economic reasons.
-
pertaining to use as a resource in the economy.
economic entomology; economic botany.
-
affecting or apt to affect the welfare of material resources.
weevils and other economic pests.
adjective
-
of or relating to an economy, economics, or finance
economic development
economic theories
-
capable of being produced, operated, etc, for profit; profitable
the firm is barely economic
-
concerning or affecting material resources or welfare
economic pests
-
concerned with or relating to the necessities of life; utilitarian
-
a variant of economical
-
informal inexpensive; cheap
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of economic
First recorded in 1585–95; from Middle French economique, from Latin oeconomicus, from Greek oikonomikós “relating to household management,” equivalent to oikonóm(os) “steward” (from oîko(s) “house” + nómos “manager”) + -ikos -ic
Explanation
If you describe something as economic, then it relates to the economy. And the economy? It's all about money, honey. The adjective economic, meaning “pertaining to management of a household,” first developed in the 1590’s and might remind you of "Home Economics" classes where you once learned to cook and sew. Usually though, we use economic to describe things relating to finance. It’s not the same as financial, but if you’re talking about a town or country whose finances are in dire straits, it’s ok to say "economic ruin."
Vocabulary lists containing economic
"Principles of Business," Vocabulary from Chapter 1
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Commonly Confused Words, List 1
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Herbert Hoover on "Rugged Individualism" (1928)
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
"Economic uncertainty has heightened risks to growth and to inflation, amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East," it said.
From Barron's • May 19, 2026
National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett recently suggested that frontier AI models should be released only “after they’ve been proven safe, just like an FDA drug.”
From The Wall Street Journal • May 18, 2026
"Consumers cannot and should not be completely insulated from global supply shocks, because that will cause even more pain later," Rahul Ahluwalia, founder director of the Foundation for Economic Development, told the BBC.
From BBC • May 14, 2026
“There is a general sense out there that our city is in crisis,” he said in a speech that year at the Economic Club of Chicago.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 13, 2026
The first page was tided: A Pictorial Record of Man's Economic Progress “This is terribly ambitious,” I said.
From "Black Boy" by Richard Wright
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.
