eficiente

Eficiente is an adjective used in Spanish and Portuguese to describe something or someone that achieves a desired result with minimum waste of time, effort, or resources. The term is closely related to the English word efficient and shares a common Latin root, reflecting the idea of producing maximum output with optimized input.

In everyday language, efficient describes processes, devices, or systems that work well and smoothly, often saving energy, time, or money. In engineering and science, efficiency is a measurable property, such as energy efficiency (the ratio of useful energy output to total energy input) or mechanical efficiency (how effectively a machine converts input energy into useful work). In economics and operations management, efficiency refers to the optimal use of scarce resources to maximize outputs or minimize costs, often contrasted with effectiveness, which focuses on achieving the intended goals.

In computing, algorithmic efficiency concerns how quickly and with how little memory an algorithm runs, influencing performance and resource use. In environmental and policy contexts, efficiency drives standards and optimization efforts, such as propulsion, buildings, and electrical grids.

Notes on usage: in Spanish and Portuguese, eficiente is gender- and number-neutral in form (el sistema es eficiente; la máquina es eficiente). It is often paired with qualifiers such as eficiente energética (energetic efficiency) or eficiente operacional (operational efficiency). Its antonym is ineficiente. eficiência or eficiencia is the corresponding noun form in each language.