efficiency
ih-FISH-un-see
/ɪˈfɪʃ.ən.si/
The state or quality of being efficient; achieving maximum productivity with minimum wasted effort or expense.
In nature, efficiency is about survival—using the least amount of energy to get the most food or protection.
The story behind the word. From the Latin 'efficere,' meaning 'to work out' or 'accomplish.' It’s about getting the job done completely.
Word relationships
- productivity: Productivity is about the amount of output; efficiency is about the ratio of output to input (waste).
- wastefulness: Using more resources than necessary.
Commonly confused with
- efficacy: Efficacy is the power to produce a desired result; efficiency is doing it without waste.
Word family
- efficient (adjective): Working in a well-organized and competent way.
Collocations
- energy efficiency
- operational efficiency
- improve efficiency
Example sentences
- "Photosynthesis operates at an energy efficiency that human-made solar panels are still struggling to match." Comparing nature and machines.
Memory hook
Efficiency: E-Fish-ency. Like a fish swimming with very little effort. No wasted energy.
When not to use
Don't confuse with 'effectiveness' (doing the right thing vs. doing things the right way).
Fun facts
- The most efficient animal on Earth in terms of transport is the human on a bicycle.
Related words
Explore more words
efficient, productivity, inefficiency, optimize, effective, optimization
Take your vocabulary further with LangBlitz
Our English vocabulary app: FSRS spaced repetition, 5,000+ curated words across 119 topic groups, CEFR A1 to C2. Explore your mastery with the beautiful Vocabulary World feature.