- providing good service or value in relation to the amount of time or money spent
- an economical car to run (= one that does not use too much petrol)
- It would be more economical to buy the bigger size.
Extra ExamplesTopics Moneyb2- Solid fuel would be more economical.
- This new oven is highly economical.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs- be
- seem
- extremely
- fairly
- very
- …
- in
- of
- with
- …
- economical with the truth
Definitions on the go
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- using no more of something than is necessary
- an economical use of space
- an economical prose style (= one that uses no unnecessary words)
Extra Examples- He admired her economical movements as she set the table for supper.
- more economical of time and resources
- This arrangement is more economical with space.
- This arrangement is more economical in its use of staff.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs- be
- seem
- extremely
- fairly
- very
- …
- in
- of
- with
- …
- economical with the truth
- not spending more money than necessary synonym frugal
- He was economical in all areas of his life.
Which Word? economic / economicaleconomic / economical- Economic means ‘connected with the economy of a country or an area, or with the money that a society or an individual has’:
- the government’s economic policy
- the economic aspects of having children.
- Economical means ‘spending money or using something in a careful way that avoids waste’:
- It is usually economical to buy washing powder in large quantities.
Idioms
See economical in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee economical in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic Englishbe economical with the truth
- if you say that somebody has been economical with the truth, you mean that they left out some important facts, but you do not want to say that they were lying
Check pronunciation:
economical