Definition of economical adjective from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

economical

adjective

ˌiːkəˈnɒmɪkl economical pronunciation American

ˌiːkəˈnɑːmɪkl

ˌekəˈnɒmɪkl economical pronunciation American

ˌekəˈnɑːmɪkl

1 providing good service or value in relation to the amount of time or money spentan economical car to run (= one that does not use too much petrol/gas)It would be more economical to buy the bigger size.

Opposite

uneconomical2 using no more of something than is necessaryan economical use of spacean economical prose style (= one that uses no unnecessary words)

Opposite

uneconomical3 not spending more money than necessary

Synonym

frugalHe was economical in all areas of his life.

Idioms

economical with the truth

a way of saying that somebody has left out some important facts, when you do not want to say that they are lying