economic
/ˌiːkəˈnɒmɪk
/ /ɛkəˈnɒmɪk/adjective
1Relating to economics or the economy: the government’s economic policy...
- Negotiations have been complicated by court rulings over economic policy.
- The two political leaders conduct their argument on the margins of economic policy.
- Getting the public finances back into balance must be a key objective of economic policy.
1.1(Of a subject) considered in relation to trade, industry, and the creation of wealth: economic history...
- Economics and lessons from economic history suggest that this may well be the case.
- This book can be used with profit to grasp the essentials of British financial and economic history in these years.
- Ethnic relations in Saint Lucia are a product of the economic history of the island.
Synonyms
financial, monetary, pecuniary, budgetary, fiscal, commercial, trade, mercantile
2Justified in terms of profitability: many organizations must become larger if they are to remain economic...
- The recipe of conditions that will make collaboration economic must have not yet come together.
- It is, of course, part of the problem that we do not have an economic immigration policy.
Synonyms
profitable, profit-making, moneymaking, money-spinning, lucrative, remunerative, financially rewarding, fruitful, gainful, productive;
solvent, viable, cost-effective, successful, commercial, commercially successful
2.1Requiring fewer resources or costing less money: solar power may provide a more economic solution...
- Many car parks are going because high land prices make building flats more economic.
Synonyms
cost-effective, effective, efficient, energy-efficient, fuel-efficient, energy-saving, fuel-saving, worthwhile, valuable, advantageous, cheap, inexpensive, low-cost, low-price, low-budget, budget, economy, reasonable, reasonably priced, cut-price
Origin
Late Middle English: via Old French and Latin from Greek oikonomikos, from oikonomia (see economy). Originally a noun, the word denoted household management or a person skilled in this, hence the early sense of the adjective (late 16th century) 'relating to household management'. Modern senses date from the mid 19th century.