inefficient

[in-i-fish-uhnt]

adjective

1. not efficient; unable to effect or achieve the desired result with reasonable economy of means.

2. lacking in ability, incompetent.

inefficient

/ ˌɪnɪˈfɪʃənt /

adjective

1. unable to perform a task or function to the best advantage; wasteful or incompetent

2. unable to produce the desired result

Other Word Forms

• inefficiently adverb
• inefficiency noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of inefficient¹

First recorded in 1740–50; in- ³ + efficient

Synonym Study

See incapable.

Example Sentences

“Landfills have to monitor surface emissions, but they do that in a very inefficient way, using outdated technology,” Magavern said.

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“Aside from all the moral objections, it was a very inefficient form of hiring temporary workers.”

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As in other industries, AI is already streamlining antiquated and inefficient workflows in finance, for example through tools that extract terms from dense financial agreements and develop code.

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Taylor was a steel-plant manager and a mechanical engineer who thought that traditional methods of factory work, where each worker relied on personal skill and custom, were inefficient.

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In the living room, Brettler added electric shades to help cool the interiors, and in the kitchen, LED lighting above and below the cabinets to brighten the home’s inefficient fluorescent lighting.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• disorganized 
• faulty 
• feeble 
• incompetent 
• ineffective 
• ineffectual 
• inept 
• sloppy 
• weak