# inefficient

/ˌɪnɪˈfɪʃənt/ (US) · /ɪnɪfˈɪʃənt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/inefficient
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. wasting resources

adjective · CEFR B2

not using time, money, or energy in the best way.

For teachers: failing to make the best use of time or resources; wasteful in operation or process.

- The old heating system is very inefficient and costs a lot to run.
- The audit revealed that the current supply chain is highly inefficient, resulting in significant overhead costs and frequent delivery delays.

### 2. lacking skill or effort

adjective · CEFR B2

not able to do a job well because of a lack of skill or being lazy.

For teachers: lacking the ability or disposition to perform a task effectively; habitually unproductive.

- The manager was fired because he was inefficient and never finished his reports.
- The department struggled under an inefficient supervisor who failed to delegate tasks or provide clear instructions to the junior staff.

### 3. an unproductive person

noun · CEFR C2 · Formal

a person who does not work well or wastes time.

For teachers: a person who fails to perform work or duties with the expected level of productivity.

- The company tried to retrain the inefficients before considering layoffs.
- The historical report criticised the administration for failing to remove the inefficients who had occupied senior bureaucratic positions for decades.

## Examples

- 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- Economists argued that the subsidy was fundamentally inefficient, as it encouraged companies to maintain outdated production methods rather than investing in modern, sustainable technology.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.