What does economically mean?
Economically is an adverb with two closely related but distinct senses. In its broader use, it means "in terms of economics or the economy", as when we say a country is economically stable or a policy is economically sound — here it frames a statement as being about wealth, trade, production, or finance. In its narrower, older sense, it describes acting thriftily: doing something in a way that avoids waste of money, time, or resources, as in "they furnished the flat economically". Both uses derive from the noun economy, which traces back through French and Latin to the Greek oikonomia, meaning household management — literally the law or rules (nomos) of the home (oikos). The word is standard in both British and American English, appears frequently in journalism, business writing, and policy debate, and carries no particular connotation of its own beyond what context supplies: it can signal prudence in one sentence and macroeconomic analysis in the next.
adverbIn a way that relates to economics or the economy; or in a way that avoids waste, using money or resources carefully and thriftily.
- In a way that relates to economics, the economy, or financial matters (e.g. "economically dependent", "economically viable")
- In a thrifty manner that avoids waste of money or resources (e.g. "lives economically")
"The family lived economically, growing their own vegetables and repairing everything they owned."
"The region remains economically dependent on tourism for most of its income."
"She cooked economically, turning leftovers into soups that lasted all week."
One little adverb covers two big ideas: how nations manage their wealth and how you stretch your grocery budget.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of economically
Economically derives from economy, which entered English via French économie from Latin oeconomia, itself borrowed from Greek oikonomia meaning "household management" (oikos, "house", plus nomos, "managing"). The adjective economical formed on this base, and the adverb economically appeared by adding the adverbial suffix -ly, becoming established in English usage from around the early modern period onward. Its cognates include the related forms economic, economist, and economize, all built on the same Greek root.
Related word forms
How economically is actually used
Both senses are neutral in register and common in both formal journalism and everyday speech. The economic sense often appears before participles ("economically active", "economically viable"), while the thrifty sense typically modifies verbs of living, spending, or using.
Easily confused with economically
"Economically" is an adverb describing how something is done (e.g. "spends economically"), while "economical" is an adjective describing a thing that saves money or resources (e.g. "an economical car").