economic
economic — adjective
1. relating to a country's or region's system of producing, buying, and selling goo
relating to a country's or region's system of producing, buying, and selling goods and services, and managing its money and resources
The government introduced new economic policies to control inflation.
collocation: economic policies
Yuki's family lost their home during the economic crisis of 2008.
collocation: economic crisis
Economic growth has created thousands of new jobs across the country.
Defne's research focuses on the economic development of Southeast Asian countries.
- financial
focuses specifically on money and monetary systems; narrower scope than economic
- commercial
relates to business and trade rather than the whole economy
- monetary
relates specifically to money supply and currency; more technical
文法句型
economic + noun
用法筆記
Often confused with 'economical', which means 'using money, time, or resources carefully without waste'. 'Economic' relates to the economy or to profitability; 'economical' relates to thriftiness. For example: 'The government announced new economic measures' (measures concerning the economy) vs. 'A small car is more economical to run' (costs less to operate).
常見錯誤
2. producing enough money or financial benefit to make a business activity worth co
producing enough money or financial benefit to make a business activity worth continuing
The old factory is no longer economic to run at current energy prices.
pattern: no longer economic to [verb]
Quan decided it was not economic to deliver goods to such remote villages.
pattern: it is (not) economic to [verb]
Many farmers find it economic to raise livestock only when feed prices are low.
The government argued that the railway was economic only if it carried freight as well as passengers.
- profitable
more common and straightforward; used in both positive and negative contexts
- viable
emphasises whether something can succeed, not just profit
- cost-effective
focuses on getting good value relative to the money spent
- uneconomic
the direct antonym — not profitable enough to continue
文法句型
it is economic to + infinitive
be + economic
no longer economic
用法筆記
This sense is most common in negative or conditional contexts ('not economic', 'no longer economic', 'barely economic'). It is rarely used in affirmative statements without a qualifying condition. Use 'profitable' as a more straightforward alternative in everyday speech.