TOP

Definition of efficiency noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

efficiency

noun
 
/ɪˈfɪʃnsi/
 
/ɪˈfɪʃnsi/
jump to other results
  1. [uncountable] the quality of doing something well with no waste of time or money
    • improvements in efficiency at the factory
    • I was impressed by the efficiency with which she handled the crisis.
    Extra Examples
    • She has run the project with great efficiency.
    • He carried out his orders with ruthless efficiency.
    • The optimum design allows bartenders to work at peak efficiency.
    • The new computer system will cut costs and increase efficiency.
    • Giving employees more flexible working hours usually leads to enhanced efficiency.
    • New timekeeping procedures had been introduced as part of an efficiency drive.
    • The internet's promise to bring more efficiency to the distribution chain is still materializing.
    • attempts to achieve greater efficiency in the production process
    • A team of inspectors will be monitoring the efficiency of the new system.
    • Some people have questioned the efficiency of the software.
    • The changes are being made in the interests of safety and efficiency.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • ruthless
    • great
    • high
    verb + efficiency
    • achieve
    • maintain
    • demonstrate
    efficiency + noun
    • drive
    • measures
    • benefits
    preposition
    • with efficiency
    • efficiency in
    See full entry
  2. efficiencies
    [plural] ways of wasting less time and money or of saving time or money
    • We are looking at our business to see where savings and efficiencies can be made.
  3. [uncountable] the relationship between the amount of energy that goes into a machine or an engine, and the amount that it produces
    • We have failed to improve energy efficiency standards.
    • What is the efficiency percentage of solar panels?
    see also fuel efficiency
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • ruthless
    • great
    • high
    verb + efficiency
    • achieve
    • maintain
    • demonstrate
    efficiency + noun
    • drive
    • measures
    • benefits
    preposition
    • with efficiency
    • efficiency in
    See full entry
  4. [countable]
    (also efficiency apartment, efficiency unit (all North American English))
    a small apartment with one main room for living, cooking and sleeping in and a separate bathroom
  5. Word Originlate 16th cent. (in the sense ‘the fact of being an efficient cause’): from Latin efficientia, from efficere ‘accomplish’, from ex- ‘out, thoroughly’ + facere ‘do, make’.
See efficiency in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee efficiency in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
perspective
noun
 
 
From the Word list
Oxford 3000
B2
Oxford Learner's Dictionaries Word of the Day