economical

6 definitions • 16 examples

using as little of something as possible; wasting nothing or very little:

economical with People were urged to be economical with water as a drought was declared.

He was typically cautious and economical with his words (= he used few words).

What's the most economical way of heating this building?

Loft insulation keeps warmth inside the house, making it more comfortable and more economical to run.

As well as being powerful, the engine is impressively economical and clean.

economical on There's increasing demand for cars that are more economical on fuel.

avoiding stating the true facts about a situation, or lying about it:

Anyone who tells you that this is a simple process is being economical with the truth.

making a profit, or likely to make a profit:

He claims that rising gas prices make the pipeline project economical.

The price of corn needs to be low in order for biofuel production to be economical.

relating to the economy, or to trade, industry, or money:

New business means economical and social progress.

In the current economical climate, many businesses have shut down for good.

not using a lot of money, energy, etc.:

With rents so high, it wasn’t economical to continue to live in the city.

not using a lot of fuel, money, space, etc.:

What's the most economical way of heating this building?

Most printer software lets you fit four pictures per sheet to make the most economical use of the space available.

There's increasing demand for cars which are more economical on fuel.

It's a shame this industry could not be a bit more economical with the costs.