Economical

Economical
Economic E`co*nom"ic (?; 277), Economical E`co*nom"ic*al, a. [F. ['e]conomique, L. oeconomicus orderly, methodical, Gr. ? economical. See {Economy}.] 1. Pertaining to the household; domestic. ``In this economical misfortune [of ill-assorted matrimony.]'' --Milton. [1913 Webster]

2. Relating to domestic economy, or to the management of household affairs. [1913 Webster]

And doth employ her economic art And busy care, her household to preserve. --Sir J. Davies. [1913 Webster]

3. Managing with frugality; guarding against waste or unnecessary expense; careful and frugal in management and in expenditure; -- said of character or habits. [1913 Webster]

Just rich enough, with economic care, To save a pittance. --Harte. [1913 Webster]

4. Managed with frugality; not marked with waste or extravagance; using the minimum of time or effort or resources required for effectiveness; frugal; -- said of acts; saving; as, an economical use of money or of time; an economic use of home heating oil. [WordNet sense 3] [1913 Webster + WordNet 1.5]

5. of or pertaining to the national or regional economy; relating to political economy; relating to the means of living, or the resources and wealth of a country; relating to the production or consumption of goods and services of a nation or region; as, economic growth; economic purposes; economical truths; an economic downturn. [1913 Webster]

These matters economical and political. --J. C. Shairp. [1913 Webster]

There was no economical distress in England to prompt the enterprises of colonization. --Palfrey. [1913 Webster]

Economic questions, such as money, usury, taxes, lands, and the employment of the people. --H. C. Baird. [1913 Webster]

6. Regulative; relating to the adaptation of means to an end. --Grew. [1913 Webster]

7. of or pertaining to economics. economic theory [WordNet 1.5]

8. profitable. Opposite of {uneconomic}. [WordNet sense 4] [WordNet 1.5 +PJC]

9. avoiding waste; as, an economical meal. Opposite of {wasteful}.

Syn: frugal, scotch, sparing, stinting, thrifty. [WordNet 1.5]

Note: Economical is the usual form when meaning frugal, saving; economic is the form commonly used when meaning pertaining to the management of a household, or of public affairs. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • economical — ec‧o‧nom‧i‧cal [ˌekəˈnɒmɪkl, ˌiː ǁ ˈnɑː ] adjective using time, money, goods etc carefully and without wasting any: • Adults generally watch a movie on video once or twice, making it more economical to rent than buy. • Environmentalists insist… …   Financial and business terms

  • economical — [ē΄kə näm′i kəl, ek΄ə näm′i kəl] adj. 1. not wasting money, time, fuel, etc.; thrifty [an economical person, an economical stove] 2. expressed or done with economy, as by using few words [an economical style] 3. of economics; economic SYN.… …   English World dictionary

  • economical — ► ADJECTIVE 1) giving good value or return in relation to the resources used or money spent. 2) sparing in the use of resources or money. ● economical with the truth Cf. ↑economical with the truth DERIVATIVES economically adverb …   English terms dictionary

  • economical — [adj1] conservative with resources; careful avaricious, canny, chary, circumspect, close, closefisted, cost effective, curmudgeonly, efficient, frugal, meager, mean, methodical, miserly, money saving, niggardly*, on the rims*, parsimonious, penny …   New thesaurus

  • economical — I adjective attentus, avoiding extravagance, careful, chary of expense, cheap, cost reducing, diligens, economizing, efficient, financially prudent, forehanded, free from waste, frugal, frugi, inexpensive, labor saving, money conscious, money… …   Law dictionary

  • economical — 1570s, pertaining to household management; from ECONOMIC (Cf. economic) + AL (Cf. al) (1). Meaning pertaining to political economy is from 1781; that of thrifty is from 1780. Related: Economically …   Etymology dictionary

  • economical — frugal, thrifty, *sparing Analogous words: prudent, provident (see under PRUDENCE): close, cheeseparing, parsimonious, penurious (see STINGY) Antonyms: extravagant Contrasted words: lavish, prodigal, exuberant, *profuse …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • economical */ — UK [ˌiːkəˈnɒmɪk(ə)l] / UK [ˌekəˈnɒmɪk(ə)l] / US [ˌɪkəˈnɑmɪk(ə)l] / US [ˌekəˈnɑmɪk(ə)l] adjective Get it right: economical: People often confuse economic and economical. Use economical to describe methods, products, machines etc that are not… …   English dictionary

  • economical — ec|o|nom|i|cal [ ,ikə namıkl, ,ekə namıkl ] adjective * 1. ) not spending or costing much money: It would be more economical to switch the machine off at night. the most economical way to run your new business a ) used about something that is not …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • economical — [[t]i͟ːkənɒ̱mɪk(ə)l, e̱k [/t]] 1) ADJ GRADED: oft ADJ to inf, it v link ADJ to inf Something that is economical does not require a lot of money to operate. For example a car that only uses a small amount of petrol is economical. ...plans to trade …   English dictionary

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