expendable

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "expendable" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something or someone that is able to be used up, consumed, or sacrificed for a particular purpose. For example: "The company allocated extra funds for expendable supplies for the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Plenty of those MPs she reports as patting her on the back will be happy for her to act as an expendable battering ram – and see what turns up.

The Guardian

It was impossible to believe our government would consider us expendable".

The Guardian - Film

Calling for a thorough investigation, Zeid Ra'ad al-Hussein told a special session of the UN human rights council in Geneva this month that his office had received reports of the militants putting children forward as "expendable cannon fodder" for its first line of attack.

The Guardian - Opinion

Stick together at all costs, and preferably give your wallet to the drum roadie, who is bigger than you are and, ultimately, expendable.

The Guardian - Music

Still, mental health is expendable.

The Guardian

Now, itwants to divide that money between the space station (allowing crews to do some actual science there) and the development of a reusable "orbital space plane" (OSP) that would be launched on top of a cheap expendable rocket.If the request is approved, it will represent a big change of strategy, since research has already started on a fully reusable vehicle.

The Economist

Each balloon carries a small, expendable measuring device called a radiosonde that sends back information on atmospheric pressure, humidity and, most importantly for this study, temperature.Unfortunately, data from radiosondes come with built-in inaccuracies.

The Economist

The president, for his part, appeared to move closer to Mr Sharon's previous view that Mr Arafat is eminently expendable.

The Economist

Then in 2012 China was embarrassed when a bishop its patriotic church had appointed responded by denouncing and renouncing it, in loyalty to the pope.Narrow churchesIf it did come to a negotiation, Taiwan, sad though it is both for its Catholics and for its leaders' chances of gallivanting abroad, may be expendable for the church.

The Economist

The true crime of Rosarno's crop-pickers was not being illegal, but expendable.*"Servi" by Marco Rovelli.

The Economist

So, teams from six American firms are competing to design a jet aircraft that would fly to the edge of space and then launch a small satellite into an orbit low enough for spying, using an expendable two-stage rocket.The project, known as RASCAL (Responsive Access, Small Cargo and Affordable Launch), is sponsored by America's Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing resources, clarify whether they are "expendable" in terms of being single-use or because they are non-essential. This adds precision to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "expendable" when you mean 'renewable'. "Expendable" implies something is used up and gone, while 'renewable' suggests it can be replenished.

Linguistic Context

The word "expendable" primarily functions as an adjective, modifying nouns to indicate that they are designed for single-use or are considered not essential. Ludwig provides numerous examples demonstrating this usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Encyclopedias

25%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the term "expendable" functions as an adjective signifying that something is designed for single-use or considered not essential. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, its grammatical usage is correct. Examples from Ludwig highlight its presence in various contexts, including news, encyclopedias, and scientific discussions. While its register is generally neutral, users should be sensitive to the connotations when applying it to individuals. Related terms like "disposable" and "replaceable" offer alternative ways to express similar concepts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

dispensable

Implies that something can be done without, synonymous with being expendable.

disposable

Indicates something designed to be thrown away after use, similar to the 'single-use' aspect of expendable.

inessential

Very similar to nonessential, meaning not absolutely necessary.

unnecessary

Straightforward synonym, meaning not needed.

replaceable

Suggests that something can be easily substituted, highlighting the 'not essential' quality of expendable.

nonessential

Directly conveys that something is not necessary or crucial, mirroring one meaning of expendable.

throwaway

Like disposable, emphasizes the idea of being used once and then discarded.

sacrificial

Highlights the aspect of being offered or given up, which relates to the 'able to be sacrificed' sense of expendable.

redundant

Indicates something exceeding what is necessary, implying that it could be removed or 'expended' without loss.

consumable

Focuses on the aspect of being used up, relating to expendable in terms of resources.

FAQs

How can I use "expendable" in a sentence?

You can use "expendable" to describe resources, people, or items that are considered not worth preserving or are designed for single use. For example, "The soldiers were considered "expendable" in the battle", or "The rocket used an "expendable" launch system".

What's a better word to use instead of "expendable"?

Depending on the context, alternatives to "expendable" include "disposable", "replaceable", "nonessential", or "sacrificial".

When is it appropriate to use "expendable"?

"Expendable" is appropriate when you want to convey that something is designed for a single use or is considered not crucial to retain. Be mindful of the negative connotations when referring to people as "expendable".

What is the difference between "expendable" and "renewable"?

"Expendable" refers to something that is used up and cannot be reused or replenished, while "renewable" describes resources that can be naturally replenished over time. The terms are antonyms and should not be interchanged.