Word Explorer

Expendable

An expendable person or object; usually used in the plural.

📖 Definitions of "Expendable"

noun

1
An expendable person or object; usually used in the plural.
"Private Johnson was afraid the Lieutenant considered him an expendable, since he was always picked as point man."

adjective

1
Able to be expended; not inexhaustible.
"Oil and other expendable resources are frequently the subject of military disputes."
2
Designed for a single use; not reusable.
"The anti-aircraft rocket is fired from an expendable launch platform."
3
Not essential or mandatory in order to achieve a goal.
"The research department was deemed expendable, and its funding was not renewed."
4
Regarded as not worth preserving or saving; able to be sacrificed.
"In the internecine rivalries of large corporations, whole departments may become expendable in the execution of one executive's power play."

4 synonyms found via WordNet and Google Books.

Word	Definition
disposablenoun	That is designed to be discarded rather than reused, refilled or repaired.
consumablenoun	A material or product that is produced for consumption.
spendable	Capable of being spent.
sacrificeable	able to be sacrificed

Words with the opposite meaning.

Word	Definition
unexpendable	Not expendable.

Found via reverse dictionary — words that share a conceptual meaning.

Word	Definition
disposable	That is designed to be discarded rather than reused, refilled or repaired.
spendablenoun	Capable of being spent.
consumable	That is consumed or depleted upon use.
sacrificeable	able to be sacrificed
ejectable	Able to be ejected.
dead	(usually not comparable) No longer living; deceased. (Also used as a noun.)
sustainablenoun	Able to be produced or sustained for an indefinite period without damaging the environment, or without depleting a resource; renewable.
replaceable	Capable of being replaced.#:
usable	Capable of being used.
interchangeable	Freely substitutable; that may be swapped at will.
durable	Able to resist wear or decay; lasting; enduring.
soft	Easily giving way under pressure.
useable	Alternative spelling of usable. [Capable of being used.]
substitutable	Capable of being used as a substitute; valid as a replacement or alternate item.
enduring	Long-lasting without significant alteration; continuing through time in the same relative state.
lasting	Persisting for an extended period of time.
redundant	Superfluous; exceeding what is necessary, no longer needed.
superfluous	In excess of what is required or sufficient.
fungible	(originally finance and commerce) Able to be substituted for something of equal value or utility.
one-time	Occurring or used in a single instance and then never again.