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economical

adjective
eco·​nom·​i·​cal | \ ËŒe-kÉ™-ˈnä-mi-kÉ™l How to pronounce economical (audio) , ˌē-kÉ™-\

Definition of economical

1 : marked by careful, efficient, and prudent use of resources : thrifty an economical shopper
2 : operating with little waste or at a saving an economical car
3 archaic : economic sense 5
Other Words from economical Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about economical

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Choose the Right Synonym for economical

sparing, frugal, thrifty, economical mean careful in the use of one's money or resources. sparing stresses abstention and restraint. sparing in the offering of advice frugal implies absence of luxury and simplicity of lifestyle. ran a frugal household thrifty stresses good management and industry. thrifty use of nonrenewable resources economical stresses prudent management, lack of wastefulness, and use of things to their best advantage. an economical health-care plan

economical, thrifty, and sparing mean careful in the use of money or goods. economical means using things in the best possible way without wasting anything. She's an economical cook who feeds us well. thrifty is used when someone manages things well and is industrious. A thrifty shopper can save money. sparing is used when someone spends or uses as little as possible. They are very sparing in giving money to charity.

Examples of economical in a Sentence

an economical way to heat your house a practical and economical solution to the problem

Recent Examples on the Web

 Little concludes — like many who have been studying the fate of our food — that there is no one answer to creating a food system that is environmental, economical and socially sustainable. — Amanda Little, Washington Post, "What We'll Eat in a Bigger, Hotter, Smarter World," 30 Aug. 2019 This is Nintendo game design at its most distilled and economical — a less-is-more philosophy that presents a mechanic and explores its variables before introducing another layer. — Todd Martens, latimes.com, "‘Super Mario Maker 2’ and its unexpected lessons in corporate life," 3 July 2019 Some of these sidesteps feel a little labored — Khloe's story line is the least interesting — but the brisk pacing and economical style are seductive and keep the reader's attention. — Rumaan Alam, Dallas News, "'Very Nice,' indeed: Marcy Dermansky's fourth novel is a great summer read," 25 June 2019 Among them was that more than half the company's 1.1 million customers are not on their most economical rate plan. — Ryan Randazzo, azcentral, "Cool weather cuts into APS' profits in 2nd quarter of 2019, erasing 1st-quarter gains," 8 Aug. 2019 Their large selection includes higher end stuff, like top of the line bows, but also lower end stuff that’s more economical. — Alvaro Montano, Houston Chronicle, "Archery a year-round sport in northwest Houston," 7 Aug. 2019 Ocean view: The Dead Sea can be done easily as a day trip from Tel Aviv, Israel, or Amman, Jordan—a good option for budget travelers looking for a greater range of economical options. — Abby Sewell, National Geographic, "Discover the best beaches in the Middle East," 29 May 2019 Paris and Los Angeles reacted by submitting relatively economical bids that were chosen for the next two Summer Games, but the shift came a bit late for Tokyo, which was facing criticism back home. — Los Angeles Times, "Tokyo’s rough road to 2020 Summer Olympics," 23 July 2019 Indeed, moving farther from the city might be the most economical choice, and Pagel suggests thinking in terms of urban development and future accessibility. — The Seattle Times, "Tips for navigating Seattle’s hot rental market," 13 Aug. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'economical.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of economical

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

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More Definitions for economical

economical

adjective
How to pronounce economical (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of economical

: using money, resources, etc., carefully
—used to describe a product that is not expensive to own and use

See the full definition for economical in the English Language Learners Dictionary

economical

adjective
eco·​nom·​i·​cal | \ ËŒe-kÉ™-ˈnä-mi-kÉ™l How to pronounce economical (audio) , ˌē-\

Kids Definition of economical

1 : using what is available carefully and without waste : frugal economical cooking
2 : operating with little waste an economical car

Other Words from economical

economically adverb

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More from Merriam-Webster on economical

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with economical

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for economical

Spanish Central: Translation of economical

Nglish: Translation of economical for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of economical for Arabic Speakers

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