expendable

1 of 2

adjective

ex·​pend·​able ik-ˈspen-də-bəl 

: that may be expended: such as

a

: normally used up or consumed in service

expendable supplies like pencils and paper

b

: more easily or economically replaced than rescued, salvaged, or protected

expendability

ik-ˌspen-də-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun

expendable

2 of 2

noun

: one that is expendable

—usually used in plural

Examples of expendable in a Sentence

Adjective

employees whose jobs are considered expendable

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Mann was traded for Bogdanović and essentially replaced as a multi-positional defender by Simmons, while Bogdanović made Porter expendable. —Law Murray, The Athletic, 25 Mar. 2025

When people feel stuck—or worse, expendable—their capacity to take initiative, solve problems, or collaborate meaningfully starts to erode. —Scott Hutcheson, Forbes, 24 Mar. 2025

Noun

One expendable named Mickey (Robert Pattinson) is part of a mission to colonize a distant planet, under the authority of a sleazily predatory and demagogic politician, Kenneth Marshall (Mark Ruffalo). —Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 11 Mar. 2025

Once Mickey dies, the scientists simply print another version of the expendable to take his place. —Tim Lammers, Forbes, 8 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1805, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1942, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for expendable

• spendable
• amendable
• commendable
• dependable
• extendable
• undependable

Kids Definition

expendable

adjective

ex·​pend·​able

ik-ˈspen-də-bəl

: normally used up in service

expendable supplies like pencils and paper

expendability

-ˌspen-də-ˈbil-ət-ē

noun

expendable noun

expendably

-ˈspen-də-blē

adverb