What does uneconomical mean?
Uneconomical means not economical: it describes an activity, system, or use of resources that costs more time, money, or effort than its results justify. A transport service may be dependable yet uneconomical if too few passengers use it; an old machine may work well but be uneconomical to maintain. The word is more specific than merely saying that something is bad and less vivid than wasteful, although it often conveys that the balance of cost and benefit is poor. It is commonly used in business, industry, public administration, and economics, especially for decisions about whether an operation, project, or practice is viable. Uneconomical is formal and comparatively uncommon, so alternatives such as not economical may sound more natural in everyday speech. Related but not identical is uneconomic, which is especially common in discussions of profitability and economic viability. Understanding the distinction helps writers identify the precise fault: the process may deliver a real benefit, but that benefit does not justify its cost or the resources it consumes.
adjectiveNot economical; involving expense, effort, or resources disproportionate to the benefit or result achieved.
- Not economical; involving a poor balance between resources used and benefits obtained.
"The hospital decided that maintaining a separate research facility would be uneconomical."
"The clinic considered satellite testing uneconomical and opened a central laboratory instead."
"The old cable system was reliable but uneconomical to maintain."
Something can work perfectly well and still be uneconomical: functioning is not the same as being worth the cost.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does uneconomical come from?
Uneconomical was formed in English by adding the negative prefix un- to economical. Economical belongs to the family of economy and economics, which came through Latin oeconomia from Greek oikonomia, “household management,” based on oikos, meaning “house,” and nomos, meaning “management” or “law.” Closely related words include economy, economic, economics, and economical.
Related word forms
How uneconomical is actually used
The adjective is formal and comparatively uncommon. The plainer expression “not economical” is often more natural in everyday speech. It normally characterizes an activity, process, system, or use of resources rather than a person's spending habits.
Easily confused with uneconomical
Uneconomic commonly emphasizes lack of profitability or economic viability, whereas uneconomical more directly means wasteful or too costly in relation to the benefit or result achieved.