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efficiency

[ih-fish-uh n-see]
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noun, plural ef·fi·cien·cies.
  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.
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Origin of efficiency

1585–95; < Latin efficientia, equivalent to efficient- (see efficient) + -ia -y3
Related formsnon·ef·fi·cien·cy, nounsu·per·ef·fi·cien·cy, noun, plural su·per·ef·fi·cien·cies.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for efficiencies

Contemporary Examples

Historical Examples

  • It is the most efficient type of water-wheel, efficiencies of 90 per cent.

    Physics

    Willis Eugene Tower

  • How do you account for any differences in the efficiencies found?

    Physics

    Willis Eugene Tower

  • The efficiencies are shown along the bottom line, and the 100 per cent.

  • These efficiencies are in terms of the most efficient (yellow-green) light.

    Artificial Light

    M. Luckiesh

  • Of course, the efficiencies of light-sources are usually of interest to the consumer if they are expressed in terms of cost.

    Artificial Light

    M. Luckiesh

British Dictionary definitions for efficiencies

efficiency

noun plural -cies
  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 percentageSee also thermal efficiency
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Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for efficiencies

efficiency

n.

1590s, "power to accomplish something," from Latin efficientia (from efficientem; see efficient) + -cy. In mechanics, "ratio of useful work done to energy expended," from 1858. Attested from 1952 as short for efficiency apartment (itself from 1930).

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
efficiencies in Medicine

efficiency

(ĭ-fĭsh′ən-sē)
n.
  1. The production of the desired effects or results with minimum waste of time, effort, or skill.
  2. A measure of effectiveness; specifically, the useful work output divided by the energy input in any system.
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The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
efficiencies in Science

efficiency

[ĭ-fĭsh′ən-sē]
  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. See also mechanical advantage.
  2. The ratio of the effective or useful output to the total input in any system.
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The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.