Skip to content
HOW TO PRONOUNCE

inefficient

/ˌɪnɪˈfɪʃənt/

Press play to hear how to pronounce inefficient.

American Pronunciation Guide · 1:03
Watch on YouTube ↗

What does inefficient mean?

adjective

  1. Not efficient; not producing the effect intended or desired; inefficacious.
  2. Incapable of, or indisposed to, effective action; habitually slack or unproductive; effecting little or nothing.

noun

  1. A person who cannot or does not work efficiently.

Definitions regrouped for readability · CC BY-SA 4.0

IPA pronunciation

/ˌɪnɪˈfɪʃənt/

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary

Pronunciation varies by speaker and region. About these dictionary pronunciations.

In the pages of books

See this word in context.

Nothing is thought of but emigration, and the best people are going, leaving the old, the weak, and the inefficient at home.
Samuel SmilesMen of Invention and IndustryProject Gutenberg ebook #725
In his hands they lost the rude and inefficient character, the inexpert and spiritless manner, which, under ordinary commanders, always distinguish them.
William Gilmore SimmsThe Life of Francis MarionProject Gutenberg ebook #843
More book examples (3)
These curves showed that the tips of long-bladed propellers were inefficient, as was also the portion of the blade near the root.
William J. (William James) Jackman; Octave Chanute; Thomas Herbert RussellFlying Machines: Construction and Operation A Practical Book Which Shows, in Illustrations, Working Plans and Text, How to Build and Navigate the Modern AirshipProject Gutenberg ebook #907
If, in that year, the government proved itself either inefficient or tyrannical, to any serious degree, the contract would not be renewed.
Lysander SpoonerAn Essay on the Trial By JuryProject Gutenberg ebook #1201
Of course she is a vague, unfocused, inefficient old thing, but she does love the children, and with proper supervision is fairly useful.
Jean WebsterDear EnemyProject Gutenberg ebook #238