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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/ɪkˈspɛndəbəl/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:IH0 K S P EH1 N D AH0 B AH0 L
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adj
Meaning 1
Able to be expended; not inexhaustible.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
Oil and other expendable resources are frequently the subject of military disputes.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
adj
Meaning 2
Designed for a single use; not reusable.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
The anti-aircraft rocket is fired from an expendable launch platform.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
adj
Meaning 3
Not essential or mandatory in order to achieve a goal.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
The research department was deemed expendable, and its funding was not renewed.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
adj
Meaning 4
Regarded as not worth preserving or saving; able to be sacrificed.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
In the internecine rivalries of large corporations, whole departments may become expendable in the execution of one executive's power play.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
noun
Meaning 5
An expendable person or object; usually used in the plural.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
Private Johnson was afraid the Lieutenant considered him an expendable, since he was always picked as point man.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
6
adjective
Meaning 6
suitable to be expended
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: unexpendable
7
adjective satellite
Meaning 7
(used of funds) remaining after taxes
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
spendable income
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: spendable
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
Etymology tree English expend Proto-Indo-European *-tḗr Proto-Indo-European *-dhlom Proto-Indo-European *-dhlis Proto-Italic *-ðlis Latin -bilis Latin -ābilis Old French -ablebor. Middle English -able English -able English expendable From expend + -able.
Across languages
Translations
56 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Bulgarian:
потребляем
(potrebljaem)
— able to be expended
Finnish:
ehtyvä
— able to be expended
Finnish:
rajallinen
— able to be expended
French:
consommable
— able to be expended
German:
erschöpflich
— able to be expended
German:
erschöpfbar
— able to be expended
German:
begrenzt vorhanden
— able to be expended
German:
endlich
— able to be expended
Greek:
αναλώσιμος
(analósimos)
— able to be expended
Manx:
yn-vaarail
— able to be expended
Manx:
yn-cheau
— able to be expended
Portuguese:
esgotável
— able to be expended
Russian:
невозобновля́емый
(nevozobnovljájemyj)
— able to be expended
Scottish Gaelic:
so-chaitheamh
— able to be expended
Spanish:
agotable
— able to be expended
Bulgarian:
за еднократна употреба
(za ednokratna upotreba)
— designed for a single use
Catalan:
d'un sol ús
— designed for a single use
Finnish:
kertakäyttöinen
— designed for a single use
Finnish:
kertakäyttö-
— designed for a single use
French:
jetable
— designed for a single use
German:
nicht wiederverwertbar
— designed for a single use
German:
einweg-
— designed for a single use
German:
wegwerf-
— designed for a single use
Portuguese:
descartável
— designed for a single use
Russian:
однора́зовый
(odnorázovyj)
— designed for a single use
Scottish Gaelic:
so-chaitheamh
— designed for a single use
Spanish:
desechable
— designed for a single use
Spanish:
fungible
— designed for a single use
Bulgarian:
маловажен
(malovažen)
— not essential or mandatory
Catalan:
prescindible
— not essential or mandatory
Czech:
postradatelný
— not essential or mandatory
Finnish:
epäolennainen
— not essential or mandatory
French:
facultatif
— not essential or mandatory
German:
verzichtbar
— not essential or mandatory
German:
entbehrlich
— not essential or mandatory
German:
überflüssig
— not essential or mandatory
Russian:
необяза́тельный
(neobjazátelʹnyj)
— not essential or mandatory
Scottish Gaelic:
so-chaitheamh
— not essential or mandatory
Spanish:
prescindible
— not essential or mandatory
Spanish:
expendible
— not essential or mandatory
Spanish:
defectible
— not essential or mandatory
Catalan:
prescindible
— not worth preserving or saving
Catalan:
sacrificable
— not worth preserving or saving
Czech:
obětovatelný
— not worth preserving or saving
Finnish:
uhrattavissa oleva
— not worth preserving or saving
Finnish:
arvoton
— not worth preserving or saving
French:
sacrifiable
— not worth preserving or saving
German:
verzichtbar
— not worth preserving or saving
German:
aufgebbar
— not worth preserving or saving
Portuguese:
sacrificável
— not worth preserving or saving
Russian:
расхо́дный
(rasxódnyj)
— not worth preserving or saving
Russian:
расхо́дуемый
(rasxódujemyj)
— not worth preserving or saving
Scottish Gaelic:
so-chaitheamh
— not worth preserving or saving
Spanish:
sacrificable
— not worth preserving or saving
Finnish:
kertakäyttötavara
— expendable person or object
