inefficient
adj. B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˌɪnɪˈfɪʃənt// UK //ɪnɪfˈɪʃənt// in·ef·fi·cient
adj. wasting time, money, or energy to get a job done. You use this to describe a person or machine that does not work in the best or fastest way.
adj. failing to make the best use of time or resources; wasteful of effort or energy. Often used to describe systems, processes, or mechanical performance.
The old heater is very inefficient and uses too much electricity.
The manager replaced the inefficient manual filing system with a digital database to save the team hours of work.
Economists argued that the subsidy was fundamentally inefficient, as it encouraged companies to maintain outdated production methods rather than investing in modern, sustainable technology.
From in- + efficient.
Usage
Often follows a linking verb like 'be', 'become', or 'seem'.