adj · noun · 7 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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Received-Pronunciation:/ɪˈfɪʃənt/
Canada, US:/ɪˈfɪʃənt/
Canada, US:/əˈfɪʃənt/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
rhymes with -ɪʃənt
CMU ARPABET:IH0 F IH1 SH AH0 N T
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adj
Meaning 1
Making good, thorough, or careful use of resources; not consuming extra. Especially, making good use of time or energy.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
An efficient process would automate all the routine work.
Our cleaners are almost too efficient: they throw away anything left out on a desk.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: lean
Antonyms: none provided
2
adj
Meaning 2
Expressing the proportion of consumed energy that was successfully used in a process; the ratio of useful output to total input.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
The motor is only 20% efficient at that temperature.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
adj
Meaning 3
Causing effects, producing results; bringing into being; initiating change (rare except in philosophical and legal expression efficient cause = causative factor or agent).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
Ownership, maintenance, or use of the automobile need not be the direct and efficient cause of the injury sustained
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
adj
Meaning 4
effective, efficacious
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: proscribed
Qualifier: old use
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
noun
Meaning 5
A cause; something that causes an effect.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: obsolete
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
6
adjective
Meaning 6
being effective without wasting time or effort or expense
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
an efficient production manager
efficient engines save gas
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: inefficient
7
adjective satellite
Meaning 7
able to accomplish a purpose; functioning effectively-G.B.Shaw
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
people who will do nothing unless they get something out of it for themselves are often highly effective persons...
effective personnel
an efficient secretary
the efficient cause of the revolution
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: effective
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
1398, “making,” from Old French, from Latin efficientem, nominative efficiēns, participle of efficere (“work out, accomplish”) (see effect). Meaning “productive, skilled” is from 1787. Efficiency apartment is first recorded 1930, American English.
Across languages
Translations
63 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Arabic:
فَعَّال
(faʕʕāl)
— making good use of resources
Belarusian:
эфекты́ўны
(efjektýwny)
— making good use of resources
Bulgarian:
ефекти́вен
(efektíven)
— making good use of resources
Bulgarian:
резултатен
(rezultaten)
— making good use of resources
Catalan:
eficient
— making good use of resources
Chinese Mandarin:
高效率
(gāo xiàolǜ)
— making good use of resources
Czech:
efektivní
— making good use of resources
Dutch:
efficiënt
— making good use of resources
Finnish:
tehokas
— making good use of resources
Finnish:
säästäväinen ja tehokas
— making good use of resources
Finnish:
taloudellinen ja tehokas
— making good use of resources
French:
efficace
— making good use of resources
German:
effizient
— making good use of resources
Ancient Greek:
δραστικός
(drastikós)
— making good use of resources
Hebrew:
יָעִיל
(ya'íl)
— making good use of resources
Hungarian:
gazdaságos
— making good use of resources
Hungarian:
hatékony
— making good use of resources
Icelandic:
skilvirkur
— making good use of resources
Icelandic:
nýtinn
— making good use of resources
Ido:
efikiva
— making good use of resources
Irish:
éifeachtúil
— making good use of resources
Irish:
éifeachtach
— making good use of resources
Irish:
feidhmiúil
— making good use of resources
Italian:
efficiente
— making good use of resources
Italian:
performante
— making good use of resources
Korean:
효율적인
(hyoyuljeog-in)
— making good use of resources
Latin:
efficiens
— making good use of resources
Malay:
cekap
— making good use of resources
Malay:
efisien
— making good use of resources
Polish:
wydajny
— making good use of resources
Portuguese:
eficiente
— making good use of resources
Romanian:
eficient
— making good use of resources
Russian:
эффекти́вный
(effektívnyj)
— making good use of resources
Scottish Gaelic:
èifeachdach
— making good use of resources
Spanish:
eficiente
— making good use of resources
Spanish:
eficaz
— making good use of resources
Tagalog:
episyente
— making good use of resources
Turkish:
verimli
— making good use of resources
Ukrainian:
ефекти́вний
(efektývnyj)
— making good use of resources
Uzbek:
samarador
— making good use of resources
Bulgarian:
ефикасен
(efikasen)
— using a particular proportion of available energy
Catalan:
eficient
— using a particular proportion of available energy
Czech:
účinný
— using a particular proportion of available energy
Dutch:
efficiënt
— using a particular proportion of available energy
Finnish:
hyötysuhde
— using a particular proportion of available energy
French:
efficace
— using a particular proportion of available energy
Hungarian:
gazdaságos
— using a particular proportion of available energy
Hungarian:
hatékony
— using a particular proportion of available energy
Irish:
éifeachtúil
— using a particular proportion of available energy
Italian:
efficiente
— using a particular proportion of available energy
Polish:
sprawny
— using a particular proportion of available energy
Portuguese:
eficaz
— using a particular proportion of available energy
Romanian:
but see randament
— using a particular proportion of available energy
Scottish Gaelic:
èifeachdach
— using a particular proportion of available energy
Tagalog:
episyente
— using a particular proportion of available energy
