economical

economical
economic, economical
1. These are both adjectives answering to the word economy: economic in the meanings ‘relating to economics’ and ‘frugal, characterized by good economy’, and economical in the meaning ‘sparing in the use of resources’. An economic cost is one that is practical and makes good business sense, whereas an economical cost is one that is modest and not excessive.
2. The phrase economical with the truth, meaning ‘saying just as much as is needed or relevant’, is a political cliché of our times, recalling earlier notions of Burke and others that ‘in the exercise of all virtues, there is an economy of truth’. In its present form it alludes to events of 1986, when the British Cabinet Secretary Sir Robert Armstrong, giving evidence during the ‘Spycatcher’ trial (in which the British government sought to prevent the publication of a book of that name by a former MI5 employee), referred to a former statement in the following way: It contains a misleading impression, not a lie. It was being economical with the truth. Phrases such as this are not easily forgotten, and allusive references abound, e.g.:

• Contrast Lord Butler's forensic exposure of intelligence failures this week with the smoothly arrogant evidence in defence of the Iraq dossier presented to the Hutton report last year, and you have a picture, if not of deception, then of men who were being severely economical with the truth —Scotland on Sunday, 2004.


Modern English usage. 2014.

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  • economical — ec‧o‧nom‧i‧cal [ˌekəˈnɒmɪkl, ˌiː ǁ ˈnɑː ] adjective using time, money, goods etc carefully and without wasting any: • Adults generally watch a movie on video once or twice, making it more economical to rent than buy. • Environmentalists insist… …   Financial and business terms

  • economical — [ē΄kə näm′i kəl, ek΄ə näm′i kəl] adj. 1. not wasting money, time, fuel, etc.; thrifty [an economical person, an economical stove] 2. expressed or done with economy, as by using few words [an economical style] 3. of economics; economic SYN.… …   English World dictionary

  • economical — ► ADJECTIVE 1) giving good value or return in relation to the resources used or money spent. 2) sparing in the use of resources or money. ● economical with the truth Cf. ↑economical with the truth DERIVATIVES economically adverb …   English terms dictionary

  • economical — [adj1] conservative with resources; careful avaricious, canny, chary, circumspect, close, closefisted, cost effective, curmudgeonly, efficient, frugal, meager, mean, methodical, miserly, money saving, niggardly*, on the rims*, parsimonious, penny …   New thesaurus

  • economical — I adjective attentus, avoiding extravagance, careful, chary of expense, cheap, cost reducing, diligens, economizing, efficient, financially prudent, forehanded, free from waste, frugal, frugi, inexpensive, labor saving, money conscious, money… …   Law dictionary

  • economical — 1570s, pertaining to household management; from ECONOMIC (Cf. economic) + AL (Cf. al) (1). Meaning pertaining to political economy is from 1781; that of thrifty is from 1780. Related: Economically …   Etymology dictionary

  • economical — frugal, thrifty, *sparing Analogous words: prudent, provident (see under PRUDENCE): close, cheeseparing, parsimonious, penurious (see STINGY) Antonyms: extravagant Contrasted words: lavish, prodigal, exuberant, *profuse …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • economical */ — UK [ˌiːkəˈnɒmɪk(ə)l] / UK [ˌekəˈnɒmɪk(ə)l] / US [ˌɪkəˈnɑmɪk(ə)l] / US [ˌekəˈnɑmɪk(ə)l] adjective Get it right: economical: People often confuse economic and economical. Use economical to describe methods, products, machines etc that are not… …   English dictionary

  • economical — ec|o|nom|i|cal [ ,ikə namıkl, ,ekə namıkl ] adjective * 1. ) not spending or costing much money: It would be more economical to switch the machine off at night. the most economical way to run your new business a ) used about something that is not …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • Economical — Economic E co*nom ic (?; 277), Economical E co*nom ic*al, a. [F. [ e]conomique, L. oeconomicus orderly, methodical, Gr. ? economical. See {Economy}.] 1. Pertaining to the household; domestic. In this economical misfortune [of ill assorted… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • economical — [[t]i͟ːkənɒ̱mɪk(ə)l, e̱k [/t]] 1) ADJ GRADED: oft ADJ to inf, it v link ADJ to inf Something that is economical does not require a lot of money to operate. For example a car that only uses a small amount of petrol is economical. ...plans to trade …   English dictionary

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