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

• inefficiency noun
• inefficiently adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of inefficient¹

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

Synonym Study

See incapable.

Example Sentences

In six career games so far, advanced metrics peg him as one of the most inefficient quarterbacks in modern history.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Out-of-date, inefficient heating and air-conditioning systems labor to keep up.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“Landfills have to monitor surface emissions, but they do that in a very inefficient way, using outdated technology,” Magavern said.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

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

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

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.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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