Words / B1

eek-uh-NOM-ikl/ˌiːkəˈnɒmɪkl/

Economical means not wasteful with money, time, or fuel: an economical boiler; economical use of space. Economic (already in the dictionary) means to do with the economy. Do not mix them — an economic policy is not always economical. School bills: an economical boiler.

Meaning

Using money, time, or fuel carefully and without waste (not the same as economic).

Examples

• “An economical boiler cut the school’s gas bill.”
• “The trip was not economical once you added the hotel, which is the waste sense.”

Good to know

economical with money / fuel. Mix-up: economic (the economy). Noun: economy. Phrase: economical with the truth (evasive). Exam trap: economic vs economical.

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