noun · academic

efficiency

/ɪˈfɪʃənsi/e·FFI·cien·cy

Band 6-7speakingtask2

the ability to do something or produce something without wasting materials, time, or energy

Examples

The company improved production by investing in more efficient machinery.

Improving energy efficiency in homes can cut bills and reduce emissions.

Students often learn study techniques that increase efficiency during exams.

Band 8 sentence

Improving energy efficiency across the housing sector is one of the most cost‑effective ways to reduce national carbon emissions.

Collocations

  • energy efficiency
  • improve efficiency
  • high efficiency

Word family

efficient adjectiveefficiently adverbinefficiency noun

Common mistakes

We must be more efficient in the system.We must improve the efficiency of the system.

There are many efficiencies in production.There are many inefficiencies in production.

Say it for a higher band

5speed6productivity7+efficiency

Synonyms

productivity

effectiveness

Easily confused

effectiveness

The new teaching method improved the effectiveness of lessons, but not necessarily their efficiency.

Related words

Learn this word with the rest of its set, and get reminded at the right time.

In -ity

Learn it with its set