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

But unlike the Super Heavy-Starship, the SLS is a throwaway, expendable booster expected to cost some $1.4 billion for each of its first four moon missions. —William Harwood, CBS News, 4 Dec. 2024

Gratitude as a leadership skill in business Gratitude is not an expendable soft skill. —Bruce Weinstein, Forbes, 27 Nov. 2024

Noun

In the novel, Mickey 7 is a space colonist known as an expendable. —Pamela McClintock, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Mar. 2024

The addition includes around 32,000 square feet of production offices; a 4,310-square-foot wardrobe department, complete with laundry; a nearly 8,000-square-foot expendables department; 18,000 square feet of storage; and a roughly 3,200-square-foot visitor space with a studio merchandise shop. —J. Clara Chan, Los Angeles Times, 25 Jan. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1805, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1942, in the meaning defined above

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