SYNONYMS AND RELATED EXPRESSIONS
economical
adjective
Using money, time, or other resources efficiently and with little waste.
Local English device voice, when available. This is not a recorded dictionary pronunciation.
Using resources without waste
Closest synonyms
Related words and expressions
These extend or explain the idea and may require a different sentence structure.
Usage distinction
Return to topInexpensive describes cost; economical weighs the resources needed to achieve the purpose.
CHECK THE MEANING IN CONTEXT
See economical in use
The economical layout fits the entire display into a small room.
An economical alternative used the room's existing chairs and a borrowed reading lamp.
Compare an alternative with the original word in each passage. Shared meanings do not make every pair interchangeable.
Synonym reference scope and sources
The groups distinguish the senses selected for this study entry. Closest synonyms and broader related expressions have separate labels. The listed sources support lexical selection; not every phrase is a direct quotation from a source.
How the synonym reference was prepared / WordNet 3.0 license