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.

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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

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

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

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• consumptions
  plural

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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

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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

The original experiments showed that removing the protein could increase nutrient consumption in human cells and interfere with fat cell formation in mouse cells.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 24, 2026

The result suggests consumer consumption continues to support economic growth in Canada despite worries the spike in energy prices and renewed trade tensions between Ottawa and Washington may dampen sentiment.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 23, 2026

He told an investor call that the rise in their use was "having an impact on beauty consumption and skin care consumption in particular".

From BBC ● Oct. 22, 2026

Their average consumption rose from 3.65 grams per day in 2003 to 10.5 grams per day in 2018.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 22, 2026

He expressed himself in the dietary laws, which favored native African foods—the yam, the cassava—and prohibited the consumption of swine.

From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides

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

I am inclined to think that consumptions, so common in England, are, in part, owing to the great use of animal food.

From Vegetable Diet: As Sanctioned by Medical Men, and by Experience in All Ages Including a System of Vegetable Cookery by William A. (William Andrus) Alcott

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Related Words

• drinking
• expenditure
• utilization

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