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

China’s economy just posted its slowest quarterly growth in three years—4.3%, missing forecasts, with fixed-asset investment down and consumption still limp.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 21, 2026

She calculated the numbers using a few key filters: first, she used personal consumption expenditure, the Fed’s stated preferred measure of inflation.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 20, 2026

One of them: to shore up consumption, which has stagnated in recent years, by opening up retail across the whole week.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 19, 2026

Higher consumption of olive oil, fish, and legumes was associated with increased levels of humanin.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 18, 2026

The problem was that he never associated "quick sale" with "immediate consumption."

From "Me Talk Pretty One Day" by David Sedaris

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

From Salon ● Sep. 17, 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

Bullein claims "the best milk that helpeth against consumptions is woman's milk".

From BBC ● Apr. 20, 2016

Each individual has to pay for their own consumptions choices.

From Forbes ● Apr. 5, 2015

They give an infusion of it in colds, coughs, asthmas, and consumptions.

From Traditions of the North American Indians, Vol. 3 by Jones, James Athearn

Related Words

• drinking
• expenditure
• utilization