Word
wasteful
Phoneticswaste·ful, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈweɪstfəɫ/
UK/wˈeɪstfəl/
Definition
adj. using more of something than you need, such as money, time, or food. It describes a person or action that throws away things that are still useful.
adj. using or expending something of value carelessly, extravagantly, or to no purpose. Often used to describe habits, processes, or individuals that fail to conserve resources.
Examples
“Leaving the lights on all day is very wasteful.”
“The manager criticized the wasteful spending on luxury office furniture while the staff lacked basic supplies.”
“Environmentalists argue that the current model of fast fashion is inherently wasteful, as it encourages consumers to discard garments after only a few uses.”
Examples
simple
“Leaving the lights on all day is very wasteful.”
contextual
“The manager criticized the wasteful spending on luxury office furniture while the staff lacked basic supplies.”
complex
“Environmentalists argue that the current model of fast fashion is inherently wasteful, as it encourages consumers to discard garments after only a few uses.”
Usage
Typically used as an attributive adjective before a noun or predicatively after a linking verb like 'be' or 'seem'.
Real-World Examples
“England were wasteful in the final third in Greece and not for the first time in recent months.” Etymology
From Middle English wastful; equivalent to waste + -ful.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/wasteful