economical

English

Alternative forms

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

Etymology

From economic +‎ -al.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˌiːkəˈnɒmɪkəl/, /ˌɛkəˈnɒmɪkəl/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˌɛkəˈnɑmɪkəl/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

Adjective

economical (comparative more economical, superlative most economical)

1. Careful with money so as not to spend too much; prudent; thrifty.

   He was an economical person by nature.

2. Saving money or resources.

   The new, eco-friendly bicycle was an economical purchase.

   • 1961 March, “The new Glasgow Central signalbox”, in Trains Illustrated, page 177:

     The whole [resignalling] scheme has proved more economical than the construction of a new Clyde bridge.

3. (dated) Relating to economy in any other sense.
   • 1854, Patrick Edward Dove, The Elements of Political Science‎^[1], part 2, page 246:

     In economical science, value and the power of producing value are taken into consideration.

   • 1922, Eugen von Böhm-Bawerk, Capital and Interest: A Critical History of Economical Theory‎^[2], page 218:

     By Use, then, in the sense given it by the Say-Hermann school, we have to think of an objective useful element which proceeds from goods, and acquires independent economical existence as well as independent economical value.

   • 2007, Who's Who in the Arab World‎^[3], page 312:

     Doctor in Economical Sciences.

   • 2010, New Techniques and Technologies in Mining‎^[4], page 20:

     Economical function usually has anti-crisis orientation and forms stable economical development of the state.

4. (cricket) Having a low economy rate.

   Antonym: expensive

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. Cf. the adjective economy.

Derived terms

• agroeconomical
• bioeconomical
• economically
• economicalness
• economical with the truth
• noneconomical
• pharmacoeconomical
• socio-political-economical
• uneconomical

 

Translations

careful with money

• Bulgarian: икономичен (bg) (ikonomičen)
• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 節約的／节约的 (zh) (jiéyuē de)

• Czech: hospodárný (cs)
• Dutch: spaarzaam (nl), zuinig (nl)
• Finnish: säästeliäs (fi), säästäväinen (fi)
• French: économe (fr)
• German: sparsam (de), wirtschaftlich (de), ökonomisch (de)
• Greek: οικονομικός (el) (oikonomikós)
• Hungarian: gazdaságos (hu)
• Irish: eacnamaíoch, eacnamúil
• Latin: parcus
• Latvian: ekonomisks
• Persian: اقتصادی (fa) (eqtesâdi)
• Russian: эконо́мный (ru) (ekonómnyj), бережли́вый (ru) (berežlívyj)
• Scottish Gaelic: cùramach
• Slovene: varčen, gospodaren, ekonomičen
• Swedish: sparsam (sv)
• Ukrainian: еконо́мний (uk) (ekonómnyj)

relating to economy — see economic

saving money or resources

• Chinese:

  Mandarin: please add this translation if you can

• Finnish: edullinen (fi), taloudellinen (fi)
• French: économique (fr)
• Greek: οικονομικός (el) (oikonomikós)
• Hungarian: gazdaságos (hu)
• Irish: eacnamaíoch, eacnamúil
• Persian: اقتصادی (fa) (eqtesâdi)
• Russian: экономи́чный (ru) (ekonomíčnyj)
• Ukrainian: еконо́мний (uk) (ekonómnyj)

See also

• economic