/ Dictionary / Index E efficiency: Meaning and Definition of Find definitions for: ef•fi•cien•cy Pronunciation: (i-fish'un-sē), [key] — pl. -cies. the state or quality of being efficient; competency in performance. accomplishment of or ability to accomplish a job with a minimum expenditure of time and effort: The assembly line increased industry's efficiency. the ratio of the work done or energy developed by a machine, engine, etc., to the energy supplied to it, usually expressed as a percentage. See Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease. See also: efficiency (Thesaurus) efficacy efficiency apartment Related Content Daily Word Quiz: neologism Analogy of the Day: Today’s Analogy Spelling Bee: Today’s Spelling Bee Frequently Misspelled Words Frequently Mispronounced Words Easily Confused Words Writing & Language