ex·pend·able
ik-ˈspen-də-bəl 
: that may be expended: such as
a
: normally used up or consumed in service
expendable supplies like pencils and paper
b
: more easily or economically replaced than rescued, salvaged, or protected
: one that is expendable
—usually used in plural
Examples of expendable in a Sentence
Adjective
employees whose jobs are considered expendable
Recent Examples on the Web
Judith Graham, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 May 2024
Declining print circulation in the digital age slowed production, diminished the employee ranks, curtailed raises and made the sprawling plant expendable under new ownership.
—Vincent Alban, Chicago Tribune, 19 May 2024
Pamela McClintock, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Mar. 2024
The addition includes around 32,000 square feet of production offices; a 4,310-square-foot wardrobe department, complete with laundry; a nearly 8,000-square-foot expendables department; 18,000 square feet of storage; and a roughly 3,200-square-foot visitor space with a studio merchandise shop.
—J. Clara Chan, Los Angeles Times, 25 Jan. 2024
See all Example Sentences for expendable 
Adjective
Ask which interventions are most important in terms of keeping you healthy, and which might be expendable.
—Judith Graham, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 May 2024
Declining print circulation in the digital age slowed production, diminished the employee ranks, curtailed raises and made the sprawling plant expendable under new ownership.
—Vincent Alban, Chicago Tribune, 19 May 2024
Noun
In the novel, Mickey 7 is a space colonist known as an expendable.
—Pamela McClintock, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Mar. 2024
The addition includes around 32,000 square feet of production offices; a 4,310-square-foot wardrobe department, complete with laundry; a nearly 8,000-square-foot expendables department; 18,000 square feet of storage; and a roughly 3,200-square-foot visitor space with a studio merchandise shop.
—J. Clara Chan, Los Angeles Times, 25 Jan. 2024
See all Example Sentences for expendable
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'expendable.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near expendable
Cite this Entry
“Expendable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/expendable. Accessed 6 Jun. 2024.
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