Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Designed to be used up and then discarded or replaced: An "expendable" item is intended to be consumed, used, and not retained, often because it is relatively inexpensive or not meant to last.
   • Not essential or important enough to be kept or saved; able to be sacrificed: A person, resource, or item considered "expendable" is viewed as not crucial to the main objective and can be sacrificed or lost if necessary.

Usage

• The adjective "expendable" describes items, resources, or even people that are not considered vital and can be used up, discarded, or sacrificed.
• It is often used in military, business, and resource management contexts.
• It typically carries a neutral or negative connotation, implying disposability or a lack of permanent value.

Examples

• Designed to be used up:
  • Ballpoint pens are considered expendable office supplies.
  • The rocket uses expendable fuel tanks that are jettisoned during flight.
• Able to be sacrificed:
  • In the harsh logic of war, individual soldiers were sometimes seen as expendable.
  • The manager viewed the temporary workers as expendable assets.

Advanced Usage

• "To be/consider something expendable": To be in a state or to judge something as being suitable for sacrifice or consumption.
  • In a budget crisis, funding for the arts is often considered expendable.
• "Expendable income" (variant: disposable income): The amount of money left after taxes that is available for spending and saving. (Note: This is a specific compound term using "expendable").
  • After paying my bills, my expendable income is very limited.

Variants and Related Words

• Expend (verb): To use or spend resources (time, money, energy).
  • The project will expend a great deal of effort.
• Expendability (noun): The quality of being expendable.
  • The expendability of the equipment was factored into the plan.

Synonyms

• Disposable: Intended to be thrown away after use.
• Consumable: Designed to be used up (often in a process).
• Replaceable: Capable of being substituted with another.
• Sacrificial: Offered or lost in sacrifice.

Antonyms

• Essential: Absolutely necessary; extremely important.
• Indispensable: Absolutely necessary; cannot be done without.
• Permanent: Lasting or intended to last indefinitely.

Related Phrases and Concepts

• Expendable launch vehicle: A rocket system that is used only once.
• Expendable personnel: A term (often criticized) for workers or staff considered easily replaceable.
• Non-expendable: Property or items that are durable and not consumed in use.

Adjective

1. (used of funds) remaining after taxes
   • spendable income
2. suitable to be expended