Synonyms

inefficiency

American

[in-i-fish-uhn-see] / ˌɪn ɪˈfɪʃ ən si /

noun

plural

inefficiencies

the quality or condition of being inefficient; lack of efficiency.
an instance of inefficiency.

This work is riddled with inefficiencies.

Etymology

Origin of inefficiency

First recorded in 1740–50; ineffici(ent) + -ency

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.

Board members can only be removed for cause, meaning malfeasance, inefficiency, or neglect in their duties.

From Slate • Apr. 24, 2026

Over time, some organisms have evolved ways to overcome this inefficiency.

From Science Daily • Mar. 11, 2026

“Every additional body that you throw at a problem adds more process, more bureaucracy, more politics, more inefficiency, more coordination.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 1, 2026

Government inefficiency still plagues the country, and it has the worst pollution on the planet.

From Barron's • Feb. 18, 2026

Because of those laws, not much foreign beer gets exported to Germany, and because of inefficiency and high prices much less of that wonderful German beer than you would otherwise expect gets sold abroad.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023