economical

English

Alternative forms

• economicall (obsolete)
• œconomical (archaic)
• œconomicall (obsolete)

Etymology

From economic + -al

Pronunciation

• (RP) IPA: /ˌɛkəˈnɒmɪkəl/, SAMPA: /%Ek@"nQmIk@l/
• (US) IPA: /ˌɛkəˈnɑmɪkəl/, SAMPA: /%Ek@"nAmIk@l/

• Audio (US)

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Adjective

economical (comparative more economical, superlative most economical)

1. Careful with money so as not to spend too much; prudent; thrifty.
2. Relating to economy in any other sense.

Usage notes

Modern usage prefers economic when describing the economy of a region or country (and when referring to personal or family budgeting).
Economical is preferred when referring to thrift or value for money.

Translations

careful with money

Bulgarian: икономичен (bg) Chinese: Mandarin: 節約的 (zh), 节约的 (zh) (jiéyuē de) Czech: hospodárný (cs) m. Dutch: spaarzaam (nl), zuinig (nl) Finnish: säästeliäs (fi), taloudellinen (fi)

German: sparsam (de), wirtschaftlich (de), ökonomisch (de) Hungarian: gazdaságos (hu) Russian: экономный (ru) (ekonómnyj), бережливый (ru) (berežlívyj) Scottish Gaelic: cùramach (gd) Swedish: sparsam (sv)

relating to economy

Chinese: Mandarin: 經濟的 (zh), 经济的 (zh) (jīngjì de) Czech: ekonomický (cs) m. Dutch: economisch (nl)

Finnish: ekonominen (fi), taloudellinen (fi) German: wirtschaftlich (de), ökonomisch (de) Russian: экономический (ru) (ekonomíčeskij), хозяйственный (ru) (xozjájstvennyj)

Derived terms

• economically
• economical with the truth

See also

• economic