Efficient most often describes what is capable of producing desired results without wasting materials, time, or energy. While the word can be applied to both people and things, it is far more commonly applied to things, such as machines, systems, processes, and organizations. Efficient means completing tasks in a well-organized, productive, and time-saving manner while using the least effort or resources.

Understanding the Context

It describes people, systems, or tools that work smoothly, produce good results, and avoid unnecessary delays. EFFICIENT definition: 1. working or operating quickly and effectively in an organized way: 2. working in a way that does….

Key Insights

Learn more. EFFICIENT definition: performing or functioning in the best possible manner with the least waste of time and effort; having and using requisite knowledge, skill, and industry; competent; capable. See examples of efficient used in a sentence. Effective and efficient are often confused, but they have slightly different meanings. If you are effective, you do a job properly; if you are efficient, you do it quickly and easily.

Final Thoughts

Doing research at the library can be effective, but using the internet is often more efficient. When you want to define the adjective efficient, it's a good idea to say as much as you can in as few words as possible because to be efficient is to be economical and avoid waste in actions or uses. If something or someone is efficient, they are able to do tasks successfully, without wasting time or energy. With today's more efficient contraception women can plan their families and careers. Definition of efficient adjective in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.