American Dictionary

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Definition economical in American English

economical adjective

adjective
/ˌikəˈnɑmɪk(ə)l/

People often confuse economic and economical.

Use economical to describe methods, products, machines, etc. that are not expensive or do not waste money or other resources:

✗ They want people to buy more economic cars.

✓ They want people to buy more economical cars.

✗ Email is an efficient and economic way of contacting a large number of people.

✓ Email is an efficient and economical way of contacting a large number of people.

Use economic to describe things that are related to the economy of a country and how well it is performing:

✗ a long period of economical growth

✓ a long period of economic growth

✗ a serious economical crisis

✓ a serious economic crisis

1

not costing or spending much money

Example

It would be more economical to switch the machine off at night.

Example

the most economical way to run your new business

Synonyms and related words
1.1

used about something that is not expensive to make, buy, or use

Example

The material is an economical substitute for plastic or steel.

Example

Of course, the car is not the most economical form of transport.

Synonyms and related words
1.2

used about someone who is careful about spending money

Example

He always was economical when it came to buying presents.

Synonyms and related words
2

not wasting anything

Example

a beautifully economical process

Synonyms and related words
2.1

an economical movement is done with as little effort as possible

Example

an economical gesture

Synonyms and related words
2.2

an economical way of speaking or writing does not use more words than are necessary

Example

Garland's prose is economical and expressive.

Definition economical in American English