Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

expendable

/ɪkˈspɛndəbəl/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: 2.96 in modern English

Syllables: ex-pend-able
IPA: /ɪkˈspɛndəbəl/

22

Scrabble Score

10

Letters

4

Syllables

8

Unique Chars

Meaning

adj

Able to be expended; not inexhaustible.

adj

Designed for a single use; not reusable.

adj

Not essential or mandatory in order to achieve a goal.

adj

Regarded as not worth preserving or saving; able to be sacrificed.

noun

An expendable person or object; usually used in the plural.

Example Sentences

"Oil and other expendable resources are frequently the subject of military disputes."
"The anti-aircraft rocket is fired from an expendable launch platform."
"The research department was deemed expendable, and its funding was not renewed."
"In the internecine rivalries of large corporations, whole departments may become expendable in the execution of one executive's power play."
"He was expendable, like commodities past their use."
"The Taunton-Minehead line (now managed by the West Somerset Railway) was considered much more expendable."

Etymology

Etymology tree English expend Proto-Indo-European *-dʰlom Proto-Italic *-ðlom Proto-Italic *-ðlis Latin -bilis Latin -ābilis Old French -ablebor. Middle English -able English -able English expendable From expend + -able.

Inflected Forms

more expendable (comparative) most expendable (superlative) expendables (plural)

Derived Forms

nonexpendable unexpendable expendability expendably

Synonyms

exhaustible finite limited dispensable disposable throwaway adjunct redundant superfluous collateral inconsiderable sacrificable

Rhymes With

dependable commendable extendable spendable amendable

Questions

How do you pronounce expendable?: The recorded pronunciation is /ɪkˈspɛndəbəl/.
What does expendable mean?: Able to be expended; not inexhaustible.
Where does expendable come from?: Etymology tree English expend Proto-Indo-European *-dʰlom Proto-Italic *-ðlom Proto-Italic *-ðlis Latin -bilis Latin -ābilis Old French -ablebor. Middle English -able English -able English expendable From expend + -able.

How to pronounce expendable

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