Definition

The condition of being able to be used up or sacrificed without significant loss; often refers to resources or items that can be replaced or are not essential.

Example

In a military context, the expendability of certain equipment can affect strategic decisions.

Conversation

Have you ever thought about the expendability of certain jobs?

Yeah, it's kind of scary how some roles seem so replaceable.

Right? It makes me appreciate my position a lot more.

Definitely! Job security feels really important these days.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Expendability → It is formed from "expend" (from Latin "expendere", meaning to weigh out or spend) and "-ability" (meaning the quality of being able to). The word "expendability" refers to the quality of being able to be spent or used up.

Memory Tip

Think of the idea of being able to 'spend' resources ('expend') and the suffix '-ability' indicating a quality. This helps you remember that expendability means the quality of being able to be used up.

Visually Confused Words