efficient
/əˈfɪʃənt/
Efficient is an adjective. It is used to describe something that works well, producing the best possible results with the least waste of time, effort, or resources. It is generally a positive term. Using it implies that a process, person, or thing is effective and productive. It can be used to describe actions, systems, methods, people, or objects. For example, 'an efficient worker', 'an efficient process', 'an efficient car'. There is no common slang or highly informal usage. It is a standard term used in both everyday conversation and formal contexts like business or science.
💬Casual Conversation
Could you try to be a bit more efficient with those asset requests? David's breathing down my neck.
Woah, chill. Just trying to dial it in. It's all good.
Collocations & Compounds
efficient working
performing tasks in a way that achieves maximum productivity with minimum wasted effort or expense.
The new software led to more efficient working and faster project completion.
efficient market
a market in which prices fully reflect all available information.
In an efficient market, it is difficult to consistently outperform the average investor.
efficient energy use
utilizing energy in a way that minimizes waste and maximizes output.
Investing in efficient energy use can significantly reduce utility bills.
efficient system
an organized set of procedures or components that operates with minimal waste of resources.
The company implemented an efficient system for inventory management.
efficient design
a plan or structure that maximizes effectiveness and minimizes resource consumption.
The architect focused on an efficient design to make the most of the small space.
Cultural Context
The Efficient Engineer: How the Mind of Brunelleschi Built the Impossible Dome
When we talk about being efficient, we often think of modern productivity hacks or streamlined business processes. But the concept of efficiency, the ability to achieve maximum productivity with minimum wasted effort or expense, has a long and storied history. One of the most breathtaking examples of this can be found in the construction of the Florence Cathedral's dome, a feat of engineering that baffled contemporaries and still amazes today.
Filippo Brunelleschi, the architect tasked with crowning the cathedral in the early 15th century, didn't just have a vision; he had an incredibly efficient plan. The problem was monumental: how to build an enormous dome, larger than any built since antiquity, without the traditional scaffolding that would have been impossibly expensive and structurally unsound for such a vast span. Instead of relying on traditional methods, Brunelleschi devised ingenious, novel solutions.
He designed a double-shelled dome, an inner and outer layer with a space in between, significantly reducing the weight. Crucially, he developed a revolutionary hoisting machine, powered by oxen, that could lift massive stone blocks and bricks with unprecedented ease. He also employed a herringbone brick pattern, interlocking the bricks in a self-supporting structure that allowed the dome to rise without extensive internal bracing. This was not just about building; it was about building smarter, not harder. Brunelleschi’s approach was a masterclass in problem-solving through sheer ingenuity and an unwavering focus on efficient resource utilization, proving that true innovation often lies in finding the most direct and effective path to a goal, even when that goal seems insurmountable.
Etymology
The word 'efficient' comes from the Latin word 'efficiens', the present participle of 'efficere', meaning 'to bring about, accomplish, produce'. It entered English in the mid-17th century, initially relating to the quality of producing a desired effect or result.